Around 4 billion litres of drinking water is estimated to have been saved in Metropolitan Wellington

Wellington Water estimates the metropolitan region has saved around 4 billion litres of water in 
the past year thanks to a massive reduction in leaks across the public water network.

New figures show daily water loss has dropped by 11 million litres per day – that's four Olympic 
swimming pools saved every single day, or the daily water use of around 50,000 people. 

Wellington Water Board Chair Nick Leggett says, “this is the result of focused investment from 
councils and hard work on the ground by staff and contractors.” 

“Wellington Water has tackled thousands of leaks across the region, and it’s paying off. In total, 
we’ve saved around 4 billion litres in just 12 months. That is a huge win for residents and our 
environment.” 

Latest annual water loss estimates show that the average level of water loss dropped from 41% 
to 37% across the 2024/25 financial year (includes both public and private leaks). 

“This equates to 11 million litres per day, well exceeding the agreed 7.4 million litres reduction 
target the Water Services Authority Taumata Arowai set for us last year,” adds Nick. 

Wellington Water Committee Chair Campbell Barry recognises the improvement from previous 
years. “Many people will remember how close we came to serious water restrictions in the 
summer of 2023/24, with thousands of litres being lost every day through leaks. These new 
figures show the steps councils have taken are making a real difference. 

“Over the last 18 months, we’ve backed Wellington Water with more funding and support to get 
on top of the leak backlog. To see public leaks drop from over 1,700 in Jan 2024 to under 300 
as of June 2025 is a massive turnaround and a real credit to the crews on the ground.” 

Nick says, "the sheer volume of leaks that we’ve had to fix is a symptom of the region’s aging 
network. While the water saving is hugely positive, leak repairs remain a band aid solution on 
old pipes. It’s important that we balance leak repairs with increased investment into replacement 
and renewal of old pipes to prevent leaks from happening in the first place and reduce the risk 
for years to come. 

“Of course, fixing leaks is just one part of the puzzle,” agrees Campbell. “Councils have 
committed to long-term solutions like water meters, boosting treatment capacity at the Te Mārua 
Water Treatment Plant, and planning for new storage in the future. Additionally, the move to a 
new water services entity will help us invest more efficiently and fairly across the region, while 
keeping costs more affordable.” 
 
Nick adds that residents continue to have a role to play. As of June 2025, Wellington Water 
estimates that there are now at least 308 leaks on private property. So, encouraging residents 
to get on top of fixing their leaks and watching their water use is key moving forward.