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Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025

Provision of water services: operational matters - Water services networks: connections - Bylaws

147: Bylaws for purposes of connections

You could also call this:

"Rules for connecting to a water network"

Illustration for Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025

When you want to connect to a water services network, the local council can make rules to regulate this. These rules are called bylaws and they are made under section 258. The bylaws must include a process for approving connections to the network.

You need to follow a three-step process to get your connection approved. The steps are: approving your concept plans, approving your engineering plans, and getting final approval and sign-off. However, you can apply for more than one step at the same time if you want to.

The council's rules must also allow you to change your application at any time before or after the water service provider makes a decision. If you change your application after the decision, the water service provider will consider it again using the same process. The water service provider can also ask you to confirm that you have any necessary resource consents before they connect you to the network.

The local council's bylaws must follow any National Engineering Design Standards made under the Water Services Act 2021. This is to ensure that the connections are made safely and correctly. The bylaws are an important part of regulating connections to water services networks.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1004630.

Topics:
Government and voting > Local councilsEnvironment and resources > Food and water safety
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Part 3Provision of water services: operational matters
Water services networks: connections: Bylaws

147Bylaws for purposes of connections

  1. Without limiting section 258, a territorial authority may make water services bylaws for its district for the purposes of regulating connections to water services networks.

  2. A water services bylaw under subsection (1)—

  3. is made under section 258; and
    1. must provide for a process for a water service provider to approve connections to water services networks.

      1. A process for approving connections must consist of the following 3 steps:

      2. step 1: approval of concept plans:
        1. step 2: approval of engineering plans:
          1. step 3: final approval and sign-off.

            1. However, the bylaw must allow—

            2. a person to apply for approval of more than 1 step at the same time; and
              1. the water service provider to approve more than 1 step at the same time; and
                1. the water service provider to require the applicant to confirm that they have obtained any relevant resource consents before the water service provider makes the connection to the water services network; and
                  1. an applicant to amend their application for approval at any stage before the water service provider decides whether to approve the application; and
                    1. an applicant to amend their application for approval after the water service provider has made their decision (in which case the water service provider must consider the amended application using the same process that it uses for any other application).

                      1. A bylaw under this section must comply with any National Engineering Design Standards made under the Water Services Act 2021.