Council has an obligation to safeguard the health of the community and the environment. This includes making sure the city’s wastewater system is regularly maintained.
Wastewater regulation
The main regulations governing the collection, treatment, and discharge of wastewater are:
- the Resource Management Act 1991
- the Local Government Acts 1974 and 2001
- the Building Act 1991
- Supply of Water Bylaw 2007
- Stormwater (Pollution Prevention) Bylaw 2015
- the Trade Waste Bylaw 2008.
Pipe maintenance
Pipes need to be maintained and upgraded where necessary. The pipes have an average life of at least 90 years and older pipes are renewed when needed. Until recently, the only way of knowing the condition of underground pipes was when they blocked or failed, leaving a depression in the road. The use of closed circuit television (cctv) monitoring means the condition of the pipes can be regularly checked.
Council's responsibility
Structural damage such as cracks or breaks in the wastewater system in the footpath or road and on Council-owned properties are repaired and maintained by Council. Pipelines on private properties often have a Council easement. This means that Council has legal access to the pipelines.
Property owner's responsibility
Structural damage to wastewater pipes inside the property boundary is the owner's responsibility; this includes damages from tree roots. The owner is also responsible for any blockages on their property and all the way to the council sewer main. If a drain-layer is sure that the cause of blockage is a Council responsibility, please contact the customer service centre.
Apply for a service connection (SCA)
Omokoroa wastewater
Omokoroa in the Western Bay of Plenty is connected to Tauranga city's wastewater treatment network. Wastewater treatment is charged on a volumetric basis.
| Omokoroa wastewater volumetric charge (as at 1 July 2023)
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| Conveyance, treatment and disposal fee (per cubic metre)
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$2.46/m3
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Matapihi wastewater connections
Some Matapihi properties are connected via a pump station to the city wastewater network. This includes the two marae, the kura and kohanga reo and residential properties surrounding the two marae.
Find out more information about the pump station and maintaining it in the Matapihi wastewater brochure.
Matapihi wastewater brochure (1.1mb pdf)
This map shows the eligible zone for residential properties to connect to the city wastewater network.
Matapihi wastewater eligible properties map (3.89mb pdf)
About the pump stations
A small pump station is installed in each property, which replaces the current septic tank or on-site wastewater system.
The pump station takes all liquids from the toilet, sink, shower, bath, dishwasher and washing machine, and transfers it through a network of pipes to the Te Maunga Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Removing wastewater away from the property for treatment at a centralised treatment facility has a number of environmental benefits to the area and the community.
Find out more information and answers to frequently asked questions in the Matapihi wastewater brochure.
Matapihi wastewater brochure (1.1mb pdf)
