Aucklanders will soon see a 7.2% rise in their water bills starting July 1, 2025.
This means the average household will pay about $7 more each month for water and wastewater services. The increase comes as Watercare, the city’s water company, prepares to become financially independent and spend billions upgrading Auckland’s water systems.
The rise is much smaller than a previously suggested 25.8% hike. Some people think water bills are already too high, but many say they’re willing to pay more if services improve. Watercare plans to spend $13.8 billion over the next 10 years fixing pipes and building new systems to keep up with the city’s growing population.
From July, Watercare will separate its finances from Auckland Council, allowing it to borrow money directly from banks. This means the company can spread the cost of big projects over many years, rather than making current residents pay everything upfront.
Watercare’s boss, Dave Chambers, says this will save around $800 million over the next three years. He also says urgent upgrades are needed because some areas are still trucking away waste due to a lack of proper pipes and treatment plants.
Councillor Kerrin Leoni supports the financial split, saying it’s better for the council and for fixing the city’s water issues. With Auckland’s population expected to grow to 700,000 by 2050, Leoni and others say people must also learn to save water—like taking shorter showers.
