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Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025

Miscellaneous provisions - Offences - Offences relating to wastewater networks

314: Connecting to, disconnecting from, or discharging into wastewater network without authorisation

You could also call this:

"Don't connect to or mess with wastewater systems without permission or you might get a big fine."

Illustration for Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025

If you connect to, disconnect from, or put things into a wastewater network without permission from a water service provider, you commit an offence. You need to get authorisation from a water service provider before you do any of these things. If you do not get permission and you commit an offence, you can get a fine.

If you are an individual and you commit an offence, your fine can be up to $100,000. If you are a body corporate or an unincorporated body and you commit an offence, your fine can be up to $500,000. This is what happens if you are convicted of the offence.

You can find similar information in the s 406 legislation from 2022. This legislation is related to the rules about wastewater networks. It is good to know about these rules so you can follow them.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1006760.

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Environment and resources > Food and water safetyGovernment and voting > Local councils
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313: Negligently disposing of materials or substances into wastewater network causing specified serious risk, or

"Don't put bad things into wastewater pipes carelessly, or you might get a big fine."

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315: Engaging in conduct relating to wastewater network that causes specified serious risk, or

"Don't cause big risks with wastewater systems or you could get in trouble."

Part 5Miscellaneous provisions
Offences: Offences relating to wastewater networks

314Connecting to, disconnecting from, or discharging into wastewater network without authorisation

  1. A person commits an offence if they connect to, disconnect from, or discharge material or substances into a wastewater network without the authorisation of a water service provider.

  2. A person who commits an offence against this section is liable on conviction,—

  3. for an individual, to a fine not exceeding $100,000:
    1. for a body corporate or an unincorporated body, to a fine not exceeding $500,000.

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