Waitomo pulls plug

Waitomo will quit a Smart Water partnership it had with Hamilton city and Waipā district councils from the end of next January.

It’s a financial decision, Waitomo CEO Ben Smit said.

“Really we weren’t getting value for money.”

Smart Water cost the council about $50,000, a year, ‘a not insignificant amount’ which Smit said would be better spent on leak detection in Te Kūiti and Piopio.

Smart Water is a partnership between Hamilton City, Waipā District Council and Waitomo District Council. It’s stated aim is to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of water from source to tap and support schools, organisations and the community to value water and use it in an efficient way.

It coordinates several projects and campaigns across the three council territories intended to reduce water use and increase community understanding around the importance of saving water.

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