Large-scale water users face compulsory water-metering: Nick Smith

Any water user taking more than 5 litres per second will have to instal water meters and record their useage, Environment Minister Nick Smith announced tonight.

Treasury analysis says the impost on water users including farmers, food processors and municipalities will cost $42 million for national benefits of $101 million, on a net present value basis. The move will allow water pricing and charging to develop on a national basis.

"We can't even begin to manage water properly in New Zealand when we have so little information on how much is extracted and when," said Smith.

Less than a third of water taken nationally is currently metered.

Businesswire.co.nz

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