Competition for the ground water resource is often intense, but little attention is sometimes paid to the values derived from extra-market uses of the resource. This paper presents the results of two valuation studies undertaken in New Zealand. One study assesses the values obtained by the community from management of ground water abstractions to preserve spring, river and wetland flows. The other study measures willingness to pay for domestic water quality. Results show that the community can place high values on these items, which need to be considered in developing water supply and management options.