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 reduction valves have been installed into parts of the water network in Brooklyn, Johnsonville and Melrose. The work installing these valves started just before the December 2023 holiday period.
We’re now in the process of reducing water pressure in Brooklyn and Johnsonville. Residents should not notice a significant difference in water pressure in their showers, taps and hoses etc. The pressure will be reduced gradually over the coming weeks, only to parts of each suburb and to varying levels too.
We’re also reducing water pressure in parts of Melrose (Houghton Bay) too. This work is scheduled for around March/April 2024.
For more information, please see the ‘Background’ tab.
If residents have any queries regarding the above work, please contact our Customer Hub (customer@wellingtonwater.co.nz), or on 04 912 4470. You can also contact Wellington City Council on 04 499 4444.
What's happening?
One of the ways Wellington Water can reduce water loss from the network is to reduce water pressure in areas that currently have high pressure.
Pressure management is usually done by installing pressure reducing valves to reduce the pressure within areas of the water network. This is commonly used both internationally and nationally, to reduce water use and water loss, extend the life of pipes, and reduce the number of new leaks.
Wellington Water has an ongoing programme to improve pressure management across the region.
In Wellington City, pressure management is currently being implemented in parts of Brooklyn, and Johnsonville. Modelling indicates that pressure management within these zones may provide water savings of up to 300,000L per day and reduce the number of new leaks by as many as 40 per year, as well as extending the expected service life of the pipework.
The three projects serve as pilot studies to improve how similar projects can be delivered, by refining the costs and benefits of pressure management within the region, and informing further pressure management opportunities.
If successful, the pressure reduction will be implemented permanently in these areas.
This work will also take place in Melrose (Houghton Bay), with the work for around March/April 2024.
Q&As
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