FAQs
What about drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater?
Under the Local Water Done Well reform, Councils were required to consult their community and choose a water services delivery model that would best meet their community’s needs, providing it also met financial sustainability and compliance standards.
The Buller, Grey, and Westland District Councils chose to set up a Water Services Council-Controlled Organisation (WSCCO), called Coast Waters Ltd, after community consultation in 2025. The new water service organisation will manage drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater from 1 July 2027.
Buller District Council will manage drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater until June 2027. After that, Coast Waters Ltd will set water charges and be responsible for the management of water services.
The new company must meet detailed statutory reporting and accountability obligations, including preparing and publishing water services strategies, budgets and reports, and will report back to the Commerce Commission.