Pressure Management Project
On behalf of Wellington City Council, we are working to minimise areas of excess water pressure in the water distribution system to reduce leakage and water consumption and help increase the life of our water network.
If you have any questions about this work, please contact:
Wellington Water, 04 912 4400
Current Status
Pressure management systems have now been installed in Brooklyn (Halifax Street and Connaught Terrace).
Works are underway installing new pressure management systems in Bathgate Street and Broderick Road, Johnsonville. This work should be completed early October.
Works installing a new pressure management system in Houghton Bay Road will recommence Monday 2 October and take around two months to complete.
What's happening?
As part of its ongoing efforts to reduce water use, Wellington Water is working to minimise areas of excess water pressure in the water distribution system. The benefits expected include:
- Reduced water leakage and improve efficiency of water use
- Reduce risk of pipe bursts
- Improved performance of the network and the life of the asset.
We are running a pilot project in three areas where water pressure is historically high - Johnsonville West, Melrose and Brooklyn. As well as renewing some ageing watermains we will be installing pressure reducing valves (PRVs) at key locations within these networks so we can gradually reduce excess pressure.
This will make the water service more reliable and efficient without adversely affecting the service levels for our customers.
Wellington Water will use data from the PRVs, sensors in the network and importantly, feedback from customers, to show how the network is performing. The results of this project will help inform the use of pressure reduction techniques in other parts of the water distribution network.
Q&As
What is the timeframe?
We are in the process of completing detailed design work, which is expected to be done over the next 24 months. The next phase involves installing the PRVs and then using them to gradually change pressure, seeking customer feedback to monitor any effects. We will provide you with further updates as the programme progresses.
Will you be inspecting individual properties or taking any pressure measurements on site?
Individual property pressure measurements are not initially required as pressure reduction covers the overall network. Investigation is not done on a house-by-house basis. We have completed hydraulic models that indicate by how much we need to reduce excess pressure, and we will monitor flows and pressures in the wider network to assess the operation of the pressure reduction.
If problems arise with your water pressure after the pressure reduction has been carried out, please let us know. We will then assess the need for individual property measurements.
Where will the PRVs be installed and what’s involved?
We will be installing the PRVs at sites off the road and away from residential properties where possible. We expect each installation to take 1 – 2 weeks and it will involve a brief shutdown of the water supply of less than 4 hours. We will let you know in advance before that happens.
We have low water pressure where we live. Will this project make it even lower?
You may experience a slight reduction in water pressure. However, it will always remain within Wellington Water pressure guidelines. We will also be working with customer feedback during the process of pressure reduction to ensure service levels are not adversely affected.
We have a PRV installed in our home. What do we need to do?
Nothing! We will only be lowering excess upstream pressure which should not adversely affect your personal PRV. However, if any issues with your water pressure are experienced during the project, please let us know.
What happens if our PRV has to be replaced or removed, who covers the costs?
We do not expect that your personal PRV will need to be replaced or removed as the project PRV will function independently- the pressure reductions are not compounded. The pressure downstream of the PRV (i.e., at your house) should remain the same, although you may experience a slight reduction in water pressure if your property is at a higher elevation. However, it will always remain within Wellington Water pressure guidelines.
If any issues are experienced during the pressure reduction, please let us know.
I don’t know whether we have a PRV installed or not? Do I need to know?
It shouldn’t matter if you have a PRV installed or not as we do not expect any issues for existing PRV’s. You do not need to know if you have a PRV installed for the success of this project as the pressure change will be the consistent with or without one.
We have a siphon hot water system that relies on mains pressure to siphon hot water from our water tank. Will the project affect this?
The pressure supplied to households will still remain within Wellington Water guidelines and should not significantly affect the operation of hot water cylinders. We will be working with customers during the pressure reduction, seeking feedback to monitor and if need be manage any effects.
We have PRVs on a low-pressure hot water cylinder in our home. How will the project affect us?
We do not expect that personal PRVs will be adversely affected as the project PRV will function independently- the pressure reductions are not compounded. The pressure downstream of the PRV should remain the same, although you may experience a slight reduction in water pressure if your property is at a higher elevation. However, it will always remain within Wellington Water pressure guidelines.
We have a fire sprinkler system in our house. Will the project affect that?
Please contact us if you have a sprinkler system in your house or property and we will arrange a site visit to check your system