Wastewater network information relates to public infrastructure such as sewer mains, manholes and recorded network connections. Depending on the location, records may be published by a water provider or council through a GIS map or another asset information service. This is different from a private drain as-built: a network plan shows the public system your property connects to, not the pipes within your boundary.
Recorded wastewater assets may include public sewer mains, rising mains, manholes and network connections. Some authorities also record pipe material, diameter and the direction of flow. The information held and published varies by location, and the level of detail differs between water providers.
Public network maps are different from private drain as-builts. The public network typically ends at the property boundary or connection point, and everything on the private side is the owner's responsibility. Do not assume a network map includes all pipes or connections within a property — for that, you need a property drainage plan.
Plumbers and drainlayers check network plans to find the nearest public main and the available connection point. Builders and developers use them when planning subdivisions or new connections, and engineers reference them during design. Homeowners may need one when a council asks where a proposed drain will connect.
Network mapping does not establish exact excavation locations or pipe depths. Assets may have been renewed, rerouted or abandoned since they were mapped, and accuracy and completeness vary between providers. Confirm conditions with the asset owner and utility locating professionals before any excavation.
Records may be held by a local authority or a water provider. In Auckland, for example, Watercare operates a water and wastewater GIS viewer and provides downloadable asset data, while in other centres the council itself holds the records. Search your address and we will identify the relevant authority for your property.
Drainage Plans NZ is an independent third-party document sourcing service, not a council or utility. Records vary and availability must be verified for each property. Plans and network maps are not a substitute for on-site locating or before-you-dig procedures.