Water Strategy due for adoption this month

A Water Supply Strategy that will help Council determine how to meet the district’s future water demand requirements and comply with new safe drinking water standards is due to be adopted at the end of this month.

A draft strategy which was released for public input in May attracted around 46 submissions. The draft document outlined:
· why Council needs to upgrade drinking water treatment and storage facilities
· what Council is proposing to do to meet future water supply needs
· why reducing peak household water use could help save money
· likely costs and options for funding the required upgrades.

Group Manager, Infrastructure Services Ted Anderson said the feedback endorsed the general thrust of the strategy and offered some valuable suggestions on how Council might implement the actions arising out of it.

Mr Anderson said a report summarising the outcome of the informal consultation was being prepared for Council. The final strategy is due to be adopted by Council at the end of August.

Mr Anderson said the strategy would guide Council when it met later this year to determine timetables and budgets for proposed water treatment and storage upgrades and looked at what measures might be needed to reduce the district’s high peak water use.

The actions arising from the strategy would be included in ‘Towards 2019’ Taupo District’s ten year plan which will be going out for public consultation towards the end of 2008.