Water Management Act 2000

On a water supply authority’s water main or a sewer main becoming available for connection, the water supply authority may—

publish in the Gazette notice of its availability, and

give such other notices as may be prescribed.

A landholder of land to which a notice under subsection (1) (a) relates becomes liable—

in the case of a water main, to payment of water service charges after the expiration of 21 days from publication of the notice, or

in the case of a sewer main, to payment of sewerage service charges after the expiration of 21 days from publication of the notice.

If a landholder does not make a connection to the water supply authority’s water main or sewer main before becoming liable under subsection (2), the water supply authority may make the connection at the expense of the landholder.

Any amount due to a water supply authority for a connection made under subsection (3) is a charge on the land connected and may be recovered as a debt owed to the water supply authority by the landholder of the land.

If a landholder of land fails—

to connect the land to a water supply authority’s water main or sewer main before becoming liable under subsection (2), or

to do any work that by this Part is required to be done by the landholder,

An amount (including interest) recoverable under subsection (5) by an occupier from a landholder may be recovered—

by deducting it from any rent from time to time payable to the landholder by the occupier, or

as a debt owed to the occupier by the landholder.

Any person desiring to connect premises with a water supply authority’s water main or sewer main may (subject to such conditions as may be imposed by law) open up the surface and soil of any road or way, public or private, or any footpath or public reserve to the extent required to make the connection.

Nothing in this section requires a water supply authority to allow a person to connect premises with the water supply authority’s water main or sewer main.