Choosing the best water tank installation in Timaru starts with finding who can size the tank, prepare the base and connect it to the pump and filtration in one visit. Water tank installation in Timaru covers rainwater harvesting at town properties, rural water storage for lifestyle blocks and farms, and tank to house pressure systems running out through Temuka, Geraldine and the Mackenzie. Think Water Timaru and WaterForce Timaru both run Washdyke premises stocking tanks, pumps and filters alongside the crews who fit them.
1Think Water Timaru
Think Water Timaru is a water management business on Seadown Road at Washdyke that designs, supplies, installs and services rainwater harvesting, pumping and filtration systems. The team works with domestic and commercial tanks from Bailey, Promax, RX Plastics and Devan, and covers residential, agricultural, commercial and industrial properties. Founded in 1964 as Washington Pumps, the business joined the Think Water group in 2012.
Services
- Rainwater harvesting and water storage tank installation
- Tank selection through to a complete harvesting and filtration system
- Pump sales, servicing and repair, including solar and bore pumps
- Water testing, filtration and purification, from under bench units to whole house ultraviolet systems
- Irrigation design, supply, installation and scheduled servicing
Highlights
- Trading in water management since 1964, first as Washington Pumps and under the Think Water name since 2012
- Members of industry body Irrigation New Zealand
- Accredited to work for local businesses and councils
- Grundfos authorised dealer, and a supplier and service agent for Karcher cleaning equipment
- Seadown Road showroom stocking pumps, filtration systems, hose, fittings, valves and pipe
Location & Contact
Name: Think Water Timaru
Address: 19 Seadown Road, Washdyke, Timaru
Phone: 03 688 2373
Website: thinkwater.co.nz/timaru
2WaterForce Timaru
WaterForce Timaru is the Washdyke branch of a national water systems company, supplying and installing tanks along with the pumps, pressure systems and filtration built around them. The branch works with farms, lifestyle blocks, rural homes and holiday houses across South Canterbury, the Mackenzie Basin and the Waitaki Valley, and keeps pumps and filtration units in stock for breakdowns.
Services
- Water tank supply and full install packages
- Tank to pump system setup, with advice on tank sizing, placement, base preparation and overflow
- Tank to house pressure system installs, fault finding and pump replacements
- Rural tank water treatment using ultraviolet, sediment, carbon and iron removal filtration
- Stock water trough supply and solar pumping for remote paddocks
Highlights
- Local branch holding pumps, filtration units and replacement cartridges in stock
- Free advice and on site visits to map an existing system and identify weak points
- Regular work through Timaru, Temuka, Geraldine, Waimate, Fairlie, Lake Tekapo, Twizel and Omarama
- Saturday appointments available alongside weekday trade hours
Location & Contact
Name: WaterForce Timaru
Address: 117 Hilton Highway, Washdyke, Timaru
Phone: 03 687 4233
Website: waterforce.co.nz/contact-us/locations
3Hadlee & Brunton
Hadlee & Brunton is a Timaru plumbing, drainlaying and civil contracting firm that has specialised in rural work across South Canterbury since 1906. Water storage tank installation and cleaning sits in its rural services alongside pump installation and rural water connections, backed by trenching, ploughing and crane truck plant. The firm is run by the Brunton family, who work on the tools as well as in the office.
Services
- Water storage tank installation and cleaning
- Pump installations and maintenance
- Rural water scheme connections
- Trough cleaning and maintenance
- Septic tank installation, maintenance and cleaning
Highlights
- In business since 1906, with Ross, David and Andrew Brunton working on site as well as running the company
- Staff who have worked on the South Canterbury rural water schemes for the past 40 years
- Eight wheel all wheel drive 54 tonne HIAB crane truck for jobs in difficult to access areas
- Specialist trenching plant including rock saw trenching, laser guided trenching and mole ploughing
- After hours emergency line answered 24 hours
Location & Contact
Name: Hadlee & Brunton Ltd
Address: 6 North Street, Timaru
Phone: 03 684 3817
Website: hadleeandbrunton.co.nz
4Menzies Group
Menzies Group is a High Street business in Timaru that combines plumbing, gasfitting, drainlaying, roofing and engineering with a heating and spa showroom. Its contracting division supplies, installs and maintains water tanks and pumps, and handles the drainage and wastewater work that goes with them. Directional drilling and thrust boring are available where a trench would be impractical.
Services
- Water tank supply, installation and maintenance
- Pump supply for domestic and rural water systems
- Drainlaying, drain unblocking and video pipe inspection
- Septic tank installation and cleaning, and eco friendly wastewater treatment systems
Highlights
- Qualified plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers working under one roof
- Experienced in backflow prevention
- Traffic management services for work on and around the road
- Emergency call out number listed alongside named after hours contacts
Location & Contact
Name: Menzies Group Limited
Address: 6 High Street, Timaru
Phone: 03 684 8440
Website: menziesgroup.co.nz
5Breen Plumbing
Breen Plumbing is a locally owned Timaru firm working across plumbing, drainlaying, gasfitting, roofing and home heating in Timaru and South Canterbury. Rainwater collection sits within its domestic plumbing services alongside hot and cold water supply, stormwater drainage and backflow prevention, so tank work is handled as part of the wider house system. The company operates from Browne Street in Parkside and holds Master Plumbers accreditation.
Services
- Rainwater collection
- Hot and cold water supply and heating systems
- Stormwater and foul water drainage
- Backflow prevention
- Septic tank servicing
Highlights
- Timaru based and locally owned, working across South Canterbury for more than 20 years
- Master Plumber guarantee on all workmanship
- Certifying and licensed plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers on staff, with regular technical training
- Maintenance work for commercial sites including PrimePort Timaru, Fonterra and Alliance Farmers Produce
Location & Contact
Name: Breen Plumbing Ltd
Address: 37 Browne Street, Parkside, Timaru
Phone: 0800 684 0177
Website: breenplumbing.co.nz
Water Tank Installation in Timaru at a Glance
| Business | Based in | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Think Water Timaru | Washdyke | Trading in water management since 1964 |
| WaterForce Timaru | Washdyke | Local branch holding pumps |
| Hadlee & Brunton | Timaru | In business since 1906 |
| Menzies Group | Timaru | Qualified plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers working under one roof |
| Breen Plumbing | Parkside | Timaru based and locally owned |
How to Choose the Right Water Tank Installer in Timaru
- Check whether the quote covers the whole job: site preparation, a level base, tank delivery and positioning, pump and pipework, and the downpipe, leaf diverter and overflow connections.
- Ask which tank brands the installer works with and why, since poly, concrete, slimline and underground tanks suit different sites, budgets and access.
- Match the tank size to your roof catchment and household or stock demand rather than to the space available, and ask the installer to do that calculation with you.
- Confirm who does the plumbing connection and that they are a registered plumber or drainlayer, especially where the tank will supply drinking water.
- Ask what happens after installation: filter cartridge changes, ultraviolet lamp replacement, pump servicing and tank cleaning are all ongoing jobs, and a local branch with stock will get you running again faster.
Frequently Asked Questions About Timaru Water Tanks
How much does water tank installation in Timaru cost?
Cost depends on the tank size and material, how much site work the base needs, and whether the job includes a pump, pressure system and filtration. A small slimline tank plumbed to a garden tap is a very different job from a large rural tank with a tank to house pressure system and ultraviolet treatment. None of the businesses on this page publish fixed pricing, so ask for an itemised quote after a site visit.
Do I need a building consent for a water tank?
It depends on the tank size, where it sits and what it connects to, and the rules differ for a garden watering tank, a drinking water supply and a stormwater detention tank. Check the current requirements with the Timaru District Council before ordering, and ask your installer whether they will handle the consent paperwork.
How do I check my installer is registered?
Plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying are regulated trades in New Zealand, and the connection between a tank and a house needs a registered tradesperson. You can look up a person or company on the public register held by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board. Master Plumbers membership is separate from registration and adds a workmanship guarantee.
What size water tank do I need?
The usual method is to work back from your roof catchment area, the local rainfall and how much water the household, stock or garden uses between decent falls of rain. Rural properties with no mains connection generally need far more storage than a town property topping up an existing supply. Installers in the district will do the calculation as part of quoting, and several publish online tank size calculators.
Which suburbs and districts do these businesses cover?
The Washdyke businesses on Seadown Road and Hilton Highway cover Timaru township and out into the rural districts, with regular work at Temuka, Geraldine, Pleasant Point, Waimate, Fairlie and into the Mackenzie Basin at Lake Tekapo and Twizel. The plumbing and contracting firms operate from Parkside, North Street and High Street and cover Timaru and the wider South Canterbury area. If you are further inland, ask about travel charges when you book.
Can rainwater from a tank be used for drinking water?
Roof collected rainwater is used for drinking across rural South Canterbury, but it needs treatment to be safe, because roof condition, sediment, bird droppings and stored water all affect quality. A typical setup uses a leaf diverter and first flush diverter before the tank, then sediment and carbon filtration and an ultraviolet unit before the water reaches the taps. Filter cartridges and ultraviolet lamps have to be replaced on schedule to keep working.
How often should a water tank be cleaned?
Sediment builds up in the bottom of any rainwater tank over time, and most suppliers suggest an inspection every year or two with a clean when the sludge layer is noticeable. Several Timaru firms offer tank cleaning as a service alongside installation. Keeping gutters clear and the inlet screened reduces how often it is needed.
Can a tank be installed on a sloping or hard to reach site?
Yes, though it changes the job. A sloping site needs the base cut and levelled properly, because a tank that settles unevenly can tilt or split under load, and restraints may be required for wind and seismic loads. Access matters too: contractors with crane trucks and excavation plant can place tanks where a delivery truck alone cannot reach.
How We Chose the Best Water Tank Installation in Timaru
Every business in this guide was found by searching for water tank installation in Timaru, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Timaru, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.