IAWAI – Flowing Waters was officially established on 1 July 2025 as a jointly owned water services company for Hamilton and Waikato communities.
Over the next year, Hamilton City Council and Waikato District Council will transfer their drinking water and wastewater services to IAWAI. Stormwater services will remain with each council, but IAWAI will deliver them under contract.
From 1 July 2026, IAWAI will be fully up and running – managing around 90,700 drinking water and wastewater connections across our growing city and district. This will include the transfer of staff, assets, contracts, land, consents, and existing water-related debt to IAWAI.
Looking ahead, IAWAI will invest about $3.3 billion over the next decade into critical water infrastructure for our communities.
Water Services Delivery Plan
Hamilton City Council and Waikato District Council received formal approval from the Secretary for Local Government for their joint Water Services Delivery Plan (WSDP) on Thursday 23 July 2025, confirming a new direction for the delivery of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services.
The WSDP was developed in response to the Government’s Local Water Done Well framework, which requires councils to prepare a one-off Water Services Delivery Plan to demonstrate how water services will be financially sustainable. The plan builds on and is broadly consistent with each council’s existing Long-Term Plan.
Under the approved plan, IAWAI – Flowing Waters, the newly established council-controlled organisation, will be responsible for providing water and wastewater services (and maintaining the relevant infrastructure) across both councils, as well as delivering stormwater services under contract to the councils.
The WSDP provides a comprehensive overview of current infrastructure, service coverage, and regulatory compliance, while identifying the investment required to support future growth, maintain service levels, and enhance environmental outcomes.
What does this mean for you?
Initially, customers will not see a lot of change.
Ratepayers in the Waikato District will still receive water meter bills, twice yearly.
Industrial and commercial water users in Hamilton will also continue to get water meter bills.
Residential water customers in Hamilton will now see three separately itemised rates for waters services on their rates invoice - drinking water, wastewater, stormwater (depending on what water services the property receives).
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Last updated 3 September 2025