Manukau Water is a Manukau City Council business unit providing water and wastewater services for about 85,000 customers in the area. The unit charges rates under the Rating Powers Act and its budget is subject to council scrutiny. Mr Utting says there is a 10-week process from sending out a water bill to a disconnection. Four reminders are sent out, two of which are in seven languages. He says customers should contact Manukau Water as early as they can if they have difficulty with the bill.
Most disconnections are for no more than a day.