Ensuring a Safe Future Drinking Water Supply for the Rangitaiki Plains
Annual Conference
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Bores at Braemar Springs, Johnson Road and Tahuna Road historically supplied the Edgecumbe and Te Teko townships and rural Rangitaiki Plains area. Braemar and Johnson Road water contain levels of arsenic and antimony above the DWSNZ. The shallow, flood affected Tahuna Road bore did not comply with DWSNZ. These sources are not Secure Water Sources for human consumption but are suitable for rural and agricultural use.
Whakatāne District Council (WDC) must provide a potable water service complying with DWSNZ to Edgecumbe and Te Teko. The remainder of the Rangitaiki Plains water service must comply with RADWS. Both of these services must meet pressure and flow standards. The Otumahi Water Supply Scheme initially solved all these issues but budgetary constraints and permitting limitations restricted the extent to which this could be achieved. WDC consulted the public and local Iwi to prioritize sub-regions within the network to reduce the scheme. Edgecumbe and Te Teko were identified as townships where the DWSNZ apply. Eastern Rangitaiki Plains can continue being supplied to RADWS.
The final Otumahi Water Supply Scheme developed an existing bore and constructed new treatment and pumping facilities on council land at Paul Road. A 169m deep bore with DWSNZ compliant water characteristics exists on site. Bore headworks, chlorine and caustic dosing facilities, storage tanks and a pump station were constructed for the scheme.
A second contract constructed 9.3km of watermain from Paul Road to Edgecumbe including the Braemar bypass. These pipelines include two bridge crossings and a bypass to deliver RADWS water to the eastern Rangitaiki Plains. A third contract upgraded the Tahuna Rd WTP to supply Te Teko with DWSNZ compliant water. This paper outlines the scheme from planning to handover and discusses issues encountered. WDC’s considerable efforts to provide safe drinking water for its people are highlighted.