Hamilton's residential water metering programme has reached its next milestone, with around 1,500 Hamilton East households involved in the next stage of IAWAI's water metering pilot.
Beginning from 1 October 2026, the Stage 2b pilot is the largest residential water metering trial undertaken in Hamilton to date. Building on insights from an earlier small-scale pilot, it will test water metering across an entire Hamilton East pressure zone and help prepare for the future citywide rollout.
IAWAI General Manager Growth and Delivery Andrew Parsons said the pilot is an important step forward for both Hamilton's communities and the long-term management of the city's water resources.
"Yesterday's launch represents years of work to get us to this point, and we're excited to be taking the next step with the Hamilton East community," Mr Parsons said.
"The first pilot gave us valuable insights into installation, technology and customer experience. This larger pilot allows us to test the full delivery approach in a real neighbourhood setting, helping ensure any future rollout is efficient, reliable and well supported."
Earlier this year, IAWAI completed a smaller pilot involving around 200 properties in Hamilton East and Te Aakau. The pilot identified leaks at almost one in five Hamilton properties, with repairs estimated to save approximately 5.1 million litres of water each year.
"One of the biggest benefits of water metering is helping people understand how much water their household uses and identifying leaks that may otherwise go unnoticed," Mr Parsons said.
"Every litre of water we save is a litre that doesn't need to be taken from the Waikato River, treated and delivered through the network. Water metering helps people make informed decisions about their water use and supports our role as kaitiaki of this important resource."
Residents participating in the pilot will receive information directly from IAWAI before installation begins, including details about timing, what to expect at their property and where to go for support.
IAWAI has partnered with New Plymouth and Hamilton-based Offshore Plumbing Services Ltd (OPS) to deliver the meter installations across the pilot area. The company brings specialist expertise in water infrastructure projects, having partnered up on the previous Hamilton East pilot. They will once again work alongside IAWAI to support households throughout the installation programme.
Once installed, households will be able to access their water-use information through an online app, giving them visibility of their daily consumption and helping them better understand how water is used around their home. Support will also be available to help identify potential leaks.
Most installations are expected to take between two and four hours, although some properties may require additional work.
Households participating in the pilot will not be charged for water usage based on the meter during this stage.
Any move to usage-based charging remains several years away and would follow community consultation. Households would receive clear information well in advance of any changes.
Feedback gathered throughout the pilot will help shape future decisions and ensure customer experiences remain at the centre of any wider rollout.
For more information visit www.iawai.co.nz/services/metering
