Doubts ratepayers will be any better off under the Government's Local Water Done Well plan.

The Department of Internal Affairs says councils face nearly 48-billion dollars in water infrastructure costs over the next decade.

By comparison, the former Government’s reforms were projected to cost at least 120-billion over 30 years.

Porirua Mayor Anita Baker told Ryan Bridge the price tag will likely end up similar to Labour’s model.

She says it's still 30 percent of council's debt moving over the new water entity, with the ratepayer footing the bill due the under-investment in water previously.