About Southern Waters
Southern Waters is the joint council water company for the Central Otago, Clutha and Gore districts, approved under Local Water Done Well. It takes over drinking water, wastewater and stormwater from about July 2027 — until then the three district councils remain the operators, so contact the relevant council before excavating.
As a council operator, Southern Waters is responsible for stormwater, wastewater, drinking water across its district. Anyone planning excavation work - building, fencing, landscaping or trenching - must identify and protect their underground pipes before breaking ground.
Southern Waters is one of 14 utility operators active in Otago. Most building or landscaping work in this area touches multiple operators' networks at once - power, water and communications cables routinely share the same trench. The list further down shows the other utilities you'll likely need to contact alongside Southern Waters.
Where Southern Waters operates
Before you dig in Otago
Striking an underground pipe can cause injury, large repair bills and outages for your neighbours. Three steps to do it safely.
- 1
Find every operator that serves your site
Map your worksite on UtilityFinder to find every operator that serves the area - power, water, gas and comms in one view - so you don't miss anyone when sending locate requests.
Create your map - 2
Request a locate from Southern Waters
Contact Southern Waters and any other operators in your area to confirm the position of their underground assets before excavation.
Locate request page - 3
Mark, protect, dig carefully
Respect the locate marks on site. Expose anything marked by an agreed method - non-invasive detection, hand digging or hydro excavation - confirming the technique with the asset owner first. Never assume a clear trench means clear ground.
Trying to find it on your own property?
How to find water mains on your property (NZ)
Where the public main sits, where your private pipe takes over, and who to ask for each.
How to get drainage plans for your house (NZ)
Two different records, two different requests - and most people only ever ask for one of them.
How to find the sewer line on your property
The lateral across your section and the main under the road are two different records.
How to find utility lines on your property
Six different services, six different owners, six different requests.
How to find your water toby and water meter
Same box at the front boundary, usually under twenty years of lawn.
Who supplies water to my address (NZ)
Council, CCO, community scheme or your own bore - it depends where you are.
Other utilities serving Otago
Most building or excavation work touches more than one operator's network. Here's who else you may need to contact.
Power
2
3 Waters
2
Rural Water
9Find every operator serving your site in 30 seconds
UtilityFinder shows every utility operator that serves Otago - power, water, gas and comms - with contact details and locate-request links in one shareable view. Plan your dig with confidence.
Create your map - free