Posted on 1-6-2002

Best Water First
Joint Statement by North Shore City Council – Joel Cayford and Waitakere
City Council – Penny Hulse

Last night, North Shore City Council and Waitakere City Council both
considered bulk water supply contracts to be signed with Watercare Services
Limited. Both Councils adopted resolutions calling for “best water first”
and requiring that Waikato water only be provided in times of emergency.

It has taken 13 years for draft contracts to be agreed between Watercare
and all six Councils and their water operators – which include Metrowater
and the United Water Franchise at Papakura. Now Councils are considering
those contracts. Cllr Cayford, Chair of Works & Environment at NSCC, says,
“these contracts are a milestone in setting bulk water prices and ensuring
water quality and pressure service levels between Watercare, Councils and
the people of the Auckland region. Now we simply want the best water.”

Waitakere City Council’s contract includes a schedule which requires
Watercare to provide Waitakere City with water from the Waitakere Lakes –
except in “abnormal operating circumstances”. This schedule was negotiated
between Watercare and Waitakere City Council in 1998. Waitakere City
Council has agreed to sign its contract. Cllr Penny Hulse, Chair of
Waitakere City Council’s Environmental Management Ctte says, “we believe
the contract is a significant step forward for the region. We were happy to
sign because we have a commitment from Watercare to provide Waitakere
citizens with Waitakere water – except in abnormal circumstances. But we
believe other Councils and other citizens should be able to enjoy the same
quality water as we do, and we will be supporting Councils – like North
Shore City Council – as they seek similar commitments with Watercare.”

In the year 2000, North Shore City Council adopted a “best raw water first”
policy, which called on Watercare to only use the Waikato Pipeline source
in times of water shortages. However North Shore City Council was unable to
win wide regional support for this point of view through its representation
on the Watercare Shareholder Representative Group (SRG) – through which
the region’s Councils own and govern Watercare. Watercare is run along
corporate lines as a local authority trading enterprise. The SRG has the
power to set Watercare’s statement of corporate intent, and to appoint its
board of directors. It is not the role of the SRG to intervene in
operational matters. At present Ministry of Health Drinking Water Standards
are not mandatory. New MoH guidelines which require a Risk Management Plan
approach to water supplies are also not mandatory.

Cllr Cayford commented, “as shareholders we are there to govern Watercare
through an annual statement of corporate intent, it is not the forum to
tell Watercare how to run its business. Watercare has proven to be a law
unto itself. It is a monopoly service provider which lacks adequate
legislative controls in regard to public health protection.” The bulk water
supply contract contains provisions and penalties relating to water service
levels. For the first time, Councils, as Watercare’s principle customers
have a mechanism for requiring Watercare to perform to agreed levels in
exchange for payment of bulk water fees. Cllr Cayford says, “as the tap
turns, this is the most appropriate time for Councils to make conditions
with Watercare which are in the best interests of the residents and
ratepayers”. Cllr Cayford says, “in terms of quality our current water
supply system is the envy of many cities of the world. Our goal is to
ensure that our citizens get least health risk drinking water from existing
uncontaminated and protected catchments.”

Cllr Hulse says, “Waitakere City Council has never seen the need for the
full commissioning of the Waikato Pipeline, and with wise water use and
conservation it may not need to be used for decades – even allowing for
growth.”

Cayford – 025 978 123
Hulse - 027 273 4663