This Draft Strategy outlines how the Selwyn District Council proposes to ensure the future of our five key community water services, namely our :

• water supplies

• wastewater systems

• land drainage schemes

• storm-water systems

• water races

Water has been described as the “gold of this century” and the "new oil" of the next. Our sustainability in future decades might depend more on our water footprint than our carbon footprint.

Some are even predicting water wars in the near future. No country is immune to the global impacts that this might have.

Here in Selwyn District demand for irrigation water already outstrips supply. Debates occur over the costs and benefits of water-races.

And new laws and regulations keep requiring higher and higher water quality standards, not only for our drinking water, but also for our wastewater and storm-water. 

Added to these local pressures are bigger pressures, such as:

• Globalisation

• Climate change

• Population growth, and

• Rising costs

The Council's draft strategy tries to anticipate the most important pressures and challenges which lie ahead and steer a course through or around them.

It focuses mainly on public water resources, but also covers private ones to the extent required by law.

The bottom line is that water affects everyone - including you.

To find out more about the 5 Waters Strategy click on the following links:

• The Flyer [PDF 160kb]

• The Summary [PDF 1MB]

• Five Waters Strategy (Full Document) [PDF 1.2MB]

• Report to Council  [PDF 280kb]

For more information, email our 5Waters team

  Email webmaster@selwyn.govt.nz with queries about this website.