Christchurch households pay an extra charge only when their average daily water use goes over the council's allowance, and a hidden leak is one of the easiest ways to go over it. A ten minute meter test tells you whether water is escaping. If it is, fix it promptly and keep the plumber's invoice, because Christchurch City Council can remit the charge when a leak has been repaired quickly.
Most Christchurch homes do not pay for water by the litre. Instead, since 1 October 2022, Christchurch City Council has charged an excess water targeted rate on homes that use more than an average daily allowance. That makes leaks easy to ignore until a bill arrives, because nothing changes on your rates while the meter quietly ticks over.
This guide explains how the charge works, how to use your own meter to check for leaks, where leaks usually hide, how billing differs in Selwyn, and what to do if the leak is on the council's side of the boundary.
What is Christchurch's excess water charge?
It is a targeted rate on water use above an average daily allowance for homes on a single residential connection. When it started in October 2022, the council set the allowance at 700 litres a day on average and reported median single dwelling use of about 470 litres a day. Check the council's current rates page for today's allowance and price, because rates are reset each year.
Meters are read quarterly, so the charge looks back over roughly three months of use. When it was introduced, the council said it would only send an invoice if the quarterly amount came to more than $25. Going by those figures, a typical household with no leaks sits under the allowance, and the households that get caught out are often the ones with a running cistern or a pipe leaking out of sight.
There is relief for leaks. The council offers a remission of the excess water charge for unexpectedly high use caused by a leak, on proof that the leak has been repaired promptly. A plumber's invoice showing what was found and fixed is that proof. The council also considers remissions for large households and medical needs.
How do I read my water meter to check for a leak?
Turn off every tap and water-using appliance, read the meter, wait at least 30 minutes without using any water, then read it again. If the numbers have moved, water is escaping somewhere between the meter and your taps.
Your meter is usually in the toby or meter box near the front boundary. Lift the lid, clear away any water or dirt, and look at the dial. The black numbers show cubic metres, which is 1,000 litres each. The red numbers or small dials show litres and parts of a litre, and many meters also have a small spinning star or triangle that turns whenever water flows. That indicator is the quickest leak check of all.
- Make sure nobody will use water during the test, and check the dishwasher, washing machine and irrigation are off
- Write down every digit, including the red ones, or take a photo
- Wait 30 minutes, or test overnight for a slow leak
- Read again: any movement means a leak, and a fast-spinning indicator means a big one
- Turn off the toilet isolation valves and test again to see whether the cisterns are the cause
Where do hidden leaks usually hide?
Toilet cisterns are the most common culprit, followed by the hot water cylinder, outside taps and irrigation, and buried supply pipes. A cistern that trickles into the bowl can waste water around the clock without making a sound, while a leaking supply pipe under a lawn may never show on the surface at all.
Work through the list below before calling anyone. If the meter is still moving after you have ruled out the obvious places, the leak is probably in a wall, under the floor or underground, and you need someone to find a hidden leak with proper equipment rather than guesswork.
| Where to look | Signs | Quick check |
|---|---|---|
| Toilet cistern | Faint trickle in the bowl, cistern refilling on its own | A few drops of food colouring in the cistern; colour in the bowl within 15 minutes means a leak |
| Hot water cylinder | Overflow pipe outside dripping or running constantly | Look at the copper or plastic pipe from the roof or wall near the cylinder |
| Outside taps and hoses | Drips, damp patches, a soggy spot by the wall | Check every tap and hose connection, including ones behind plants |
| Irrigation | Green or wet strips in dry weather, a controller left on | Turn the irrigation supply off and redo the meter test |
| Supply pipe from toby to house | Meter moves with everything off, wet patch or lush grass | Turn off the main valve inside, if fitted; if the meter still moves, the leak is on the supply pipe |
| Inside walls and under floors | Damp smells, stains, swollen skirting, warm patches near hot pipes | Needs leak detection equipment |
Meter moving with the taps off?
Cheeky's Plumbers tracks down hidden leaks across Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri, and gives you a clear invoice to support a remission claim.
How much water can a small leak waste?
More than most people expect, because a leak never stops. A slow cistern trickle or a dripping relief valve runs every hour of every day, so the litres add up over a three month reading period even when the flow looks tiny.
We will not put a made-up number on it, because every leak is different. Your meter is the honest measure: note the reading at the start of an hour with no water use and again at the end, and the difference is your leak rate in litres per hour. Multiply by 24 to see what it adds to your daily average, then compare that with the council's allowance.
Cisterns are usually a cheap fix. A worn flapper or a faulty inlet valve is a straightforward toilet repair, and stopping it often brings use back under the allowance on its own.
Is Selwyn's water billing different?
Yes. Selwyn District Council charges households a fixed charge plus a charge for every cubic metre used, and 98.3% of households on council supplies are metered. There is no free allowance to absorb a leak, so in Rolleston or Lincoln every litre a leak wastes shows up on the bill straight away.
Selwyn's charges are billed through Selwyn Water Ltd, and the per cubic metre rate changes with the council's annual plan, so check the council's water charges page rather than relying on an old figure. The leak test above works exactly the same on a Selwyn meter.
Owners in Selwyn and Waimakariri should also remember that each district council sets its own rules on leaks, ownership and remissions, so the Christchurch remission does not automatically apply outside the city.
Who fixes a leak on the council side of the boundary?
Christchurch City Council. The council owns and maintains the service pipe from the main to your boundary, along with the toby or meter box, its valves and the meter itself. You own the supply pipe from the boundary into the house.
If water is coming up in the berm or footpath, or leaking from the meter box fittings, report it to the council on 03 941 8999 or 0800 800 169. The council checks the leak and will tell you if it is actually private. Our guide on who fixes which pipe walks through every part of the connection in more detail.
When should I call a plumber?
Call a plumber when the meter test shows a leak you cannot find, when you can hear water running with everything off, or when there is damp in walls, floors or ceilings. Leave it longer and you risk rot and mould as well as a bigger bill. A burst pipe, with water spraying or pouring, is an emergency: shut off at the toby and call straight away.
Cheeky's Plumbers finds leaks with acoustic listening gear, thermal imaging and pressure testing, so we can usually locate the fault without opening up walls. Our invoice records what we found and when we fixed it, which is what you need to apply for a council remission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the excess water charge apply to rental properties?
The charge is a targeted rate on the property, so the council bills the owner. Who ends up paying is a tenancy question, so check your tenancy agreement and Tenancy Services guidance on water charges.
How long do I have to fix a leak to get a remission?
The council asks for proof that the leak was repaired promptly but does not publish a set number of days. Fix it as soon as you find it and apply with the invoice.
Can a leak on my side of the boundary affect my neighbours?
On a shared supply pipe it can. Owners share the common pipe on a shared drive, so a leak there may be on everyone's meter or affect pressure for all. Talk to your neighbours and get it found quickly.
Will a new toilet use less water?
Modern dual flush toilets use less water per flush than older single flush models, but the bigger saving is usually stopping a leaking cistern. Fix leaks first, then consider upgrades when replacing old fixtures.
Why did my water use jump in summer?
Garden watering, irrigation and filling pools push summer use up. Christchurch has had summer water restrictions in the past, and irrigation leaks are easy to miss because the ground is already wet where they run.
Our Services
Leak Detection
A hidden leak can push your household over the Christchurch excess water allowance and quietly rot framing behind your walls.
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Toilet Repairs
Running toilets, leaking cisterns, blocked pans and wobbly bases fixed fast.
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Burst Pipes
Burst pipes cause more water damage in Christchurch homes than almost anything else, from frozen pipes on a hard frost to older bungalows with galvanised steel or early polybutylene pipe.
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