Plumbers say Metrowater should pipe down

John Landrigan | 29th July 2009

Local businesses are caught in the middle of a scrap between tradesmen and a local authority agency, writes John Landrigan.

There is a Chinese proverb intoned by Auckland plumbers that "you should always live at the top of the hill because pollution runs down".

Now, Auckland plumbers say the Auckland City Council-owned Metrowater is lording it over them in a dirty takeover bid for their services. And you might feel the corporate wrench as well -  in the pocket.

There are fears that a multimillion-dollar takeover will encompass greater Auckland when water companies unite under the Government's super-city proposal. Backflow devices protecting the mains water supply are installed for schools, hairdressers, dentists, doctors, swimming baths and some manufacturers.

To give an idea of the magnitude of Metrowater's interest, that's thousands of backflow devices that must be checked every year at $144 a pop. Historically, they were tested by plumbers but Metrowater says it is now complying with laws amended in the Health Act in 2007 to protect the mains supply and the risk of "serious illness and death".

Metrowater, Auckland City's water provider, was responsible for the care up to the  meters outside these properties.

In Metrowater's own service standards report, it says: "you are responsible for the wastewater pipes and leaks or blockages inside your property".

So why is Metrowater's newly apppointed contractor, Downers EDI, telling customers  there is no need to arrange for a plumber because Downers EDI will now do the test - at a standard charge.

This is railroading, says Bill Smythe, a 49-year-veteran of the Auckland plumbing industry.

"You have no choice who tests your pipes. This is the first time I've seen a takeover of this kind with no consultation. I'm brassed off. They've come in and blown everyone away. Customers installed the devices at their own cost and Metrowater are saying they are theirs."

Mr Smythe says plumbers are going to jobs and being told they are no longer needed.
Customers are being bulldozed into accepting Metrowater's terms, Mr Smythe says. Plumbers told Metrowater where some of the backflow devices were and now the water giant was using the information to shut out the plumbers.

"They still don't know where 2000 of these devices are. Some properties have several of them. Many are inside the buildings."

Tim Hammond, Metrowater's general manager of service operations, says a letter sent to those concerned was badly worded and an explanatory letter would follow.

In fact,  the company would test only the device closest to the mains.

Metrowater was charging the going rate, was not in it for the money and was simply meeting Health Act requirements.

Mr Hammond says there "have been many cases of backflow devices not working. "There is a risk of contamination to the network. Serious illness and death."

Mr Smythe says this makes no sense because customers will have to pay for Metrowater's attendance for one device and plumbers for any remaining devices and lose discounts offered for multiple units.

Mr Smythe says Metrowater do not fix faults, so customers have to call plumbers, who will then have to charge for a further test.

"Metrowater have got their hand out where they're not needed."