Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
A local politician is questioning why Watercare isn't investing in water softening treatment in its upgrade of the Waiuku treatment plant.
Watercare's plan for Waiuku does not include water softening treatment for hard water, which Franklin Local Board member Gary Holmes said has been a long-standing issue for the community.
Watercare maintains drinking water in Waiuku meets the safe drinking standards.
"Watercare's response misses the point entirely," Holmes said.
"While the water may meet basic drinking standards, it is demonstrably failing to provide Waiuku residents with the same level of value and service enjoyed by most other parts of Auckland."
Hard water is water that contains dissolved minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese. Soft water contains lower concentrations of these minerals.
The amount of these minerals in a city's water supply varies by region, depending on both where the water comes from and how the water is treated. According to Watercare, hard water is moderately hard in Waiuku, Bombay, Warkworth, Helensville and Pukekohe.
Holmes said what Waiuku residents' need for better water wasn't about luxury, but about fairness and ensuring they weren't bearing excessive costs.
Watercare's new era of financial independence was the perfect opportunity to address the significant financial burden placed on Waiuku residents, he said.
"Now, with their new ability to borrow in their own name, without support from council or the government, Watercare has even less excuse to neglect the needs of Waiuku residents."
Holmes said Waiuku residents have been forced to shoulder the financial burden of installing their own water treatment systems, frequently replacing damaged appliances, and even incurring costs for items like water cylinders at a much higher rate than other Aucklanders.
"Watercare claims 'fairness and equity' in its service provision across Auckland.
"But, where is the fairness for Waiuku residents who are forced to pay more out of their own pockets for essential water-related infrastructure and maintenance, simply because Watercare is unwilling to invest in a solution that would benefit the entire community?"
Holmes said in a recent survey he conducted, widespread dissatisfaction with Waiuku's water quality and the resulting financial strain was revealed.
Key findings included most households reporting spending thousands of dollars on appliance repairs and individual softening systems.
"The survey responses paint a clear picture of frustration and financial burden.
"Residents are tired of replacing appliances, battling limescale buildup, and feeling like second-class citizens when it comes to water quality and the associated costs."
Watercare head of water Sharon Danks said like a third of the country's drinking water, Waiuku's water supply came from a groundwater source.
These water sources tend to contain higher elevated levels of minerals that have dissolved from surrounding rocks, commonly referred to as hard water, she said.
"We are committed to providing the Waiuku community with safe, high-quality drinking water that meets the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards.
She said the hardness in Waiuku's treated water was in the 'moderately hard' range, and well below the guideline recommended in the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards of 200mg/L.
"As all of our water meets Drinking Water Standards for hardness, we have no plans to add water softening treatment, which comes at significant cost."
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
