Water Services Strategy

IAWAI is your new water organisation, publicly owned by Hamilton City Council and Waikato District Council and working in partnership with Waikato-Tainui.

From 1 July 2026, we’ll be responsible for delivering drinking water and wastewater services for Hamilton and Waikato communities. Stormwater services will remain council owned, but we are contracted to deliver them.

By working together, we combine resources and know-how to run more efficiently and meet our communities’ growing needs.

Water Services Strategy 2026-2036

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What is IAWAI's Water Services Strategy?

It’s IAWAI's 10-year-plan (2026-2036). It sets out how IAWAI will deal with huge growth, look after our existing assets, meet new rules and regulations, and provide the critical water and wastewater services the residents and businesses of our communities need.

What does the Water Services Strategy deliver?

By bringing water services together under one organisation, IAWAI has been able to plan across the subregion, invest more efficiently and meet the demands of growth.

IAWAI’s Water Service Strategy includes:

A reduction to the water charge increases previously forecast by both councils. Down $91 for Hamilton households and $247 for Waikato.
Introducing water and wastewater growth charges on new builds so growth is paid for by those creating the additional demand - not existing households.
A $3 billion capital programme over 10 years to renew, upgrade and expand the network our communities depend on.
Using debt sensibly to smooth price increases and to ensure infrastructure is paid for by the generations who will benefit from it.

Read more details about IAWAI’s proposals and share your feedback at hamilton.govt.nz/IAWAI

Feedback is open until 6 April.

Frequently asked questions

There are two parts to the connected water supply charges: a fixed water charge and a fee per cubic metre used for those with water meters. Ratepayers who are connected to our wastewater treatment network are charged a fixed wastewater rate.

Fixed charges

The proposed fixed water charge is $594.02 for the 2026/27 rating year.
This is proposed fixed wastewater is $1,896.59 for the 2026/27 rating year.

Volumetric charge for water used

A $2.74 per cubic metre (/m3) of water used is proposed for the 2026/27 rating year. This is the volumetric charge. Essentially: save water, save money.

Based on the average annual per household water use of 210m3, this would see a $31.50 increase for 2026/27.

The volumetric charge is amount of water used, and in the table below this is based on average annual household water use of 210m3

The table below shows the current charges, what was forecast without the decision to form a council owned water organisation, and the proposed increases:

	2025/26	Long Term Plan (pre-IAWAI)	New proposed IAWAI 2026/27	Proposed increase
Water fixed charge	$562.52	$675.02	$594.02	$31.50
Wastewater fixed targeted rate	$1,785.87	$2,037.32	$1,896.59	$110.72
		Proposed total fixed rate increase	$2,490.61	$142.22
Average water use - 210m²	$2.59/m²	$2.74/m²	$575.40 Average annual volumetric charge per household	$31.50 Proposed average volumetric increase per household
		Proposed total average increase (fixed and volumetric) per household.		$173.72

Yes, Waikato District Council uses a district wide fixed rate for each water connection and a volumetric charge for water consumed.

Ratepayers who are connected to our wastewater treatment network are charged a fixed wastewater rate. This is proposed to increase to $1,896.59 for the 2026/27 rating year.

	2025/26	LTP (pre-IAWAI)	New proposed IAWAI 2026/27	Proposed increase
Wastewater Fixed Targeted rate	$1,785.87	$2,037.32	$1,896.59	$110.72

While you cannot reduce your fixed rates for water and wastewater, you can influence the volumetric charge, in other words, how much water you use. Save water, save money.

Water usage all adds up. Consider whether you need to water the garden, wash the car, have longer or shorter showers. You pay for what you use.

If you want to use less water at your place, making small changes can result in a big reduction in your water use.

Check out these top tips for saving water around the home and garden: How can I save water and other water saving tips with Smartwater.

IAWAI is focused on keeping water charges as low as possible while still investing in the essential infrastructure our sub-region needs.

We’re investing in what matters most: safe drinking water, reliable wastewater services, and protecting the Waikato River for future generations.

While no one welcomes increases, this outcome is significantly better than what ratepayers would have faced without the decision to form a council owned water organisation.

The region is growing fast. IAWAI’s plan unlocks new housing and business and ensures growth increasingly pays for growth, easing pressure on households.

Our network is vulnerable. We are building resilience, particularly in the face of more frequent and severe weather events.

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Last updated 3 March 2026, 04:55 pm