Steady and consistent progress has been made by IAWAI – Flowing Waters Ltd in the first two months since the council-owned company took over responsibility for water services in Hamilton City and Waikato District.
The IAWAI Board meets this Thursday, and Chief Executive Peter Winder’s report notes the new organisation is operating well and meeting service level standards and key reporting targets.
All water quality compliance requirements have been met across both districts and response times for callouts are well within targets.
IAWAI successfully managed operational issues including a breakdown at the Port Waikato Water Treatment Plant, a fuel contamination issue in wastewater in Tuakau and elevated E.coli levels in a stormwater discharge in Pookeno.
The response to the events across the region showed IAWAI’s systems were in place and operating well, with opportunities taken to learn from each incident
The second phase of IAWAI's water meter pilot will begin in October 2026. Around 1500 water meters will be installed across Hamilton East as part of the four-year rollout across the city.
Residential metering in Hamilton will mean water demand can be tracked across the network more effectively, identify leaks, and support more informed planning and investment in future infrastructure. It will also enable consistency of charging methods across the IAWAI region, with metered supplies already in place in Waikato District.
Looking ahead, the organisation is preparing for its second Water Service Strategy and identifying long-term planning priorities and approaches ahead of planned public engagement and consultation.
The organisation is also gearing up for a predicted El Niño summer, which may contribute to lower Lake Taupoo and Waikato River levels, increasing pressure on water supply management. Initial steps are to confirm planning for drought readiness, demand management controls, and summer public engagement through the Smart Water programme.
The Board meets at 8am on 17 September 2026 at Hamilton City Council’s Committee Room 1. The full agenda is available here.