The Kāpiti Coast runs from Raumati, laid out as a seaside resort in 1908, through Paraparaumu, which with Raumati is among the fastest growing urban areas in New Zealand, to Waikanae's family and retirement homes and Ōtaki's town, beach and lifestyle properties. A rainwater tank does different jobs depending on where you live in the region. In Wellington City, the Hutt Valley and Porirua it mostly takes pressure off the mains for the garden, toilets and laundry, and helps the garden through dry summers. On the Kāpiti Coast, where every home is metered, it can also cut the per cubic metre part of your water bill. On rural blocks with no town supply, the tank is the supply. We supply and install water tanks across Wellington: we help you pick the size and material, set the base, and plumb in the pump, first-flush diverter, filters and overflow so the tank works from day one.
Rainwater tanks on the Kāpiti Coast: metered water, dry summers and two-source backflow
Kāpiti is the one part of the region where a rainwater tank can show up directly on your water bill. Every Kāpiti connection has been metered since 2014, with a fixed charge plus a charge for each cubic metre used, so tank water used for the garden, toilets or laundry is water you are not buying from the council. Paraparaumu Airport averages about 1,009 mm of rain a year, enough for a well-sized tank to stay useful through most of the year on an average roof. We work out the roof area feeding it first.
Summer is when a tank earns its keep. The Waikanae, Paraparaumu and Raumati supply comes from the Waikanae River and is topped up from the Waikanae borefield in dry summers, and gardens dry out quickly in sandy coastal soil. A tank gives you water for the garden when you most need it. Ōtaki has its own supply from groundwater bores, and lifestyle blocks around the town often use tanks for stock, gardens and sheds as well as the house. Homes near the sea at Raumati and Paraparaumu Beach can also rinse salt off outdoor surfaces with tank water rather than metered supply.
Plumbing a tank into the house brings a specific Kāpiti rule. Kāpiti Coast District Council says every connection in the district needs some form of backflow prevention, and that residential properties may need more protection where there are two water sources. A tank with mains top-up is exactly that, so we fit the right backflow device and a proper air gap or changeover valve so tank water can never flow back into the public supply. We also set the tank on a firm, level base, because sandy ground can settle unevenly under a full tank, and run the overflow to stormwater.
Local tip: If your Kāpiti tank has a mains top-up, ask the council or us whether your backflow device needs testing, because two water sources can mean a higher protection level.
For anything else, see our plumbers in the Kāpiti Coast.
Pricing: quotes are free, and every job gets a fixed price before we start, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
Water Tanks Jobs We Do in the Kāpiti Coast
- Tank pump setups
- UV for tank water
Water Tanks Kāpiti Coast FAQs
Will a rainwater tank cut my Kāpiti water bill?
It can. Kāpiti water is metered and charged per cubic metre, so tank water used for the garden, toilets or laundry reduces what you draw from the council supply.
Do I need consent for a rainwater tank in Wellington?
Not always. Some outdoor-use tanks sitting on the ground are exempt under national guidance, but tanks feeding internal plumbing or with a mains top-up usually need consent. Check with your council, or we will check for you.
Can a tank supply my toilets and washing machine?
Yes. That needs a pump and usually a building consent, and the plumbing must be done by a licensed plumber.