Before the Second World War, urban settlement in the lower Hutt Valley was concentrated around central Lower Hutt, Petone and Eastbourne. In the late 1940s new state housing suburbs spread along the eastern side of the valley from Waiwhetū to Taitā, and Waterloo today has a mix of state and private housing. Housing later climbed the western hills at Normandale and Kelson. 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 in Lower Hutt: garden supply, quake readiness and flood plain siting
In Lower Hutt a tank is less about the water bill and more about having your own supply. Most homes in metropolitan Wellington, including Lower Hutt, are not metered, so the saving does not show on a bill the way it does on the Kāpiti Coast. What a tank does give you is water for the garden when Tiaki Wai restrictions limit sprinklers, and a store of water on site. Gracefield, in the south of the city, averages about 1,206 mm of rain a year, so even a modest roof fills a tank quickly through autumn and winter. A pump and taps can be added so the tank runs a hose at useful pressure.
Earthquake readiness is a common reason people ask. The Wellington Fault runs along the western edge of the valley, and having stored water on your own property is a sensible part of being prepared. If you plan to use tank water for anything beyond the garden, we can add filtration and talk through what treatment it needs. A full tank is very heavy, so we set it on a firm, level base and secure it so it cannot shift or topple in a shake.
Lower Hutt's ground and flood history shape where a tank goes. The city sits on the flood plain of Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River, and studies have placed Seaview and Gracefield among areas with liquefaction potential. We site tanks on ground that is well compacted and above low spots that pond in heavy rain. Downpipes feeding the tank, and the tank overflow, must discharge to the stormwater system, never into wastewater, and we check those connections as part of every install. Leaf screens on the inlet keep debris out and the water fresher.
Local tip: Fit a first-flush diverter on your Lower Hutt tank so the dirtiest roof water at the start of each rain goes to stormwater instead of the tank.
For anything else, see our plumbers in Lower Hutt.
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 Lower Hutt
- Leaking tank repairs
- First flush diverters
Water Tanks Lower Hutt FAQs
Is a rainwater tank worth it in Lower Hutt if water is not metered?
It will not lower a water bill for most homes, but it gives you garden water during restrictions and a backup supply after an earthquake or outage. Many owners install one for that resilience.
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.