From 1 July 2026, you will receive a new water bill from Selwyn Water
Previously, fixed water supply and wastewater charges were included in your Council quarterly rates bill, and you were charged for the water you use (your metered water) approximately twice a year in a separate bill.
Your new water bill from Selwyn Water will look a little different from what you’ve previously received from Selwyn District Council.
Moving to quarterly billing
You will receive one bill each quarter, which will include your fixed drinking water supply and wastewater charges and, where applicable, your metered (volumetric) water charges, based on how much water you use.
Metered and non-metered properties
If your drinking water is metered you will receive your bill following each read of your meter, approximately every 90 days. Meter readings are scheduled on a rolling basis across the district. This means not everyone will receive their bill at the same time.
Your first bill on a metered connection will include your metered water charges since your last reading and fixed charges from 1 July 2026. If you are not on a metered connection, any drinking water or wastewater fixed charges will be billed (in advance) in the first month of each calendar quarter (i.e. July, October, January, April).
Not everyone in the district is connected to a Selwyn Water drinking water supply or wastewater network. If you have your own private bore or wastewater system and are not within a serviceable distance of Selwyn Water’s network, you will not receive a bill from Selwyn Water.
How you will receive your bill
You will receive your first bill in the post. You will also receive this by email if you have previously selected email as your preferred method with the Council.
After your first bill, you will receive your Selwyn Water bill in the same way you currently receive your Council rates bill (by email or post). You can change your mailing preference through your MyWater account.
We’ve created a helpful guide that breaks down the key parts of your new water bill. View the guide here.
If you have any questions about your current Council-issued water bill, please contact the Council directly.
Understanding your water charges
Metered water supply
For properties where water consumption is metered, your bill will include fixed charges for your water supply and wastewater connections, along with a charge based on how much water you use.
Restricted water supply
Some properties are on a restricted water supply. These properties have a daily water allowance, with the volume of water supplied limited to a set amount. Your quarterly bill will include fixed charges for your water supply and wastewater connections (if you are connected to our network), along with a charge based on how many restricted water units your property has.
How water charges are used
Water charges pay for the infrastructure and services that ensure:
- Safe drinking water comes out of your tap
- Wastewater is safely collected and treated
- The systems that deliver and treat water are maintained and upgraded over time
This includes the costs for:
- Pipes, pump stations and reservoirs
- Drinking water and wastewater treatment plants
- Everyday operation and maintenance
- Renewing and upgrading ageing pipes and facilities
Serviceability charges
In some instances a serviceability charge may apply to properties that are not currently connected to the public water supply or wastewater network but are eligible to connect and within 100 metres of the property boundary.
While a property may not currently be connected, it still benefits from having access to a reliable and safe public water supply and wastewater network. Selwyn Water has invested in constructing, operating, maintaining and renewing the infrastructure required to make water services available to the property, and capacity is retained within the network to enable a future connection.
The serviceability charge helps ensure the costs of providing and maintaining this infrastructure are shared fairly between all properties that have access to the service.
For some restricted water supply schemes, capacity is set aside for properties that have a right to connect, including vacant or undeveloped sections. Because this capacity is reserved, it cannot be allocated to other properties. The serviceability charge helps fund the ongoing costs of maintaining this capacity and ensuring it remains available for future use.
Selwyn Water charges the following
- Serviceability (drinking water) - 100% of the fixed drinking water charge ($498 per year)
- Serviceability (wastewater) - 50% of the fixed wastewater charge ($476 per year)
This approach is consistent with the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002, which allows the costs of water and wastewater services to be recovered from properties that are connected to, or able to be connected to, these networks
Serviceability charges are not a new charge introduced by Selwyn Water. Similar charges applied when drinking water and wastewater services were provided directly by Selwyn District Council.
The Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025 also confirms the responsibility of water services providers to deliver, maintain and manage water services and the infrastructure required to support them for their communities.
By charging properties that can access the network, Selwyn Water is able to recover a fair share of the costs associated with maintaining a safe, reliable and sustainable water supply system for current and future users.
Current fees and charges
We set drinking water and wastewater fees and charges in line with our Water Services Strategy and Fees and Charges Policy.
View our 2026-27 fees and charges.