Who fixes what in Levin
| Who fixes it | What the council says | |
|---|---|---|
| The network, up to the council-owned toby | Horowhenua District Council | Report a leak outside your property straight away on (06) 366 0999. |
| A leak at the toby | The council, if the road is not privately owned | On a private road, the repair is the owner's responsibility. |
| Pipes on your property | You, through a plumber | By law you maintain your plumbing and avoid wasting water. Repair leaks as soon as possible. |
Levin facts that change a plumbing job
Finding the toby
The toby is usually on the berm outside your front fence, but in some areas it's on a right of way or inside private property. Horowhenua Maps shows its recorded spot, and some streets have a white line painted on the road to mark it.
Digital meters and your allowance
The council has been fitting digital water meters since March 2024. In Levin, a metered property's rates cover 91,000 litres a quarter, and the allowance doesn't carry over.
When a leak runs up the bill
Apply within three months of your meter going in and you can ask for a 100% remission of the excess. After that, up to 50%. Either way you need proof of repair, such as the plumber's confirmation or two meter photos taken a week apart.
Empty houses
825 of Levin's 8,424 private dwellings were unoccupied on census night in 2023, up from 462 in 2018. With nobody home, a leak can run for a long time before anyone sees it.
Central Districts Water
Central Districts Water is expected to start in July 2027, delivering drinking water, wastewater and stormwater for Horowhenua, Palmerston North and Rangitīkei. Until then, Horowhenua District Council manages Levin's water.
For work on your side, check the person on the PGDB register by first and last name, and make sure their licence covers the trade. Gas is one to watch: 15.7% of Levin homes use a fixed gas heater (9.5% nationally), and that's a gasfitter's job.
Nearby and by job
Palmerston North, Feilding and the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Jobs: leak detection, toilets, gasfitting and our leak check tool.
What we would do
If you have a meter, use it. Turn off every tap and water-using appliance, note the reading and the time, wait, then read it again. If the numbers moved, you might have a leak on your side, and it's worth fixing quickly because you may be paying for the water. Keep the plumber's confirmation of the repair, or two meter photos a week apart, for a remission claim. Leaks at the toby or in the street go to the council; for everything else, we'll find a Levin tradie who specialises in tracing and fixing leaks.