New reservoirs strengthen Akaroa water supply
Christchurch City Council Newsline: 17th June 2026
Akaroa’s water supply has been strengthened with the opening of two new reservoirs at the L’Aube Hill Water Treatment Plant.
The reservoirs are each able to hold 1,000,000 litres of water and provide improved water resilience and security for Banks Peninsula since becoming operational in May.
Head of Three Waters Gavin Hutchison says the $7.4m project is an important investment in the water supply network.
“This work allows for additional treated water storage for Akaroa and Takamatua, helping improve the overall resilience and flexibility of the water supply system.
“It also helps provide an extra level of security for the community, particularly during busy holiday periods when the population in Akaroa can increase significantly.”
The L’Aube Hill Water Treatment Plant supplies drinking water to both Akaroa and Takamatua using locally sourced water that is treated through modern filtration and disinfection processes before being distributed through the network. It supplies much of Akaroa by gravity, with additional reservoirs supporting surrounding areas including Takamatua.
The additional permanent storage will help with day-to-day management of the system and support the network during periods of higher demand, planned maintenance and unexpected operational events.
Historically, L’Aube Hill has played an important role in Akaroa’s water infrastructure, with parts of the original reservoir system dating back more than a century.
Mr Hutchison says the reservoirs are an example of work being undertaken across the Three Waters network to strengthen infrastructure and meet New Zealand’s evolving water standards.
“Reliable drinking water infrastructure is something most people only notice when it’s unavailable or under a boil water notice, so projects like this are important in helping ensure communities continue to receive a safe and dependable water supply into the future.”
The next major water infrastructure project planned for Banks Peninsula is at the Duvauchelle Water Treatment Plant. The upgrades will enable it to process water from the Pipers Stream intake in wet weather – removing the need for frequent tanker trips from Akaroa.