Taupo water from E-grade to A-grade

One of the most significant projects in the Council ten year plan is set to proceed after TKMP committee agreed that contracts for design and construction of the Taupo Water Treatment Plant should be sought

The upgrade to the Taupo Water Treatment Plant has a budget of $25.2 million and will take place over the next three years.

The new plant will replace the current one on Lake Terrace (opposite Council Offices) and the project will also include major pipeline renewals in town.

Group Manager Ted Anderson says the public may have already noticed survey work taking place in Taupo central, next the pipes along a section of the Lions Walk will be replaced, “there may be some disruption to people using the Lions walk but it shouldn’t be a major inconvenience.”

He says that the work is overdue given the need to improve our water quality to meet the governments Drinking Water Standards. “We currently have e-grade water. This is due to the fact that Lake Taupo [where we draw our water from] is an uncovered source.”

He says currently we chlorinate the water but otherwise provide minimal treatment. “The new plant will use up to the minute membrane technology which will treat the water to a very high standard and improve our water quality from an e-grade to an a-grade standard.”

Council are currently lodging a consent to expand the land designation on Lake Terrace. As part of the consultation process officers will be holding public information sessions and encourage anyone wanting to know more to come along.

There will be two sessions held in Council Chambers on Thursday 26th August. The first will be during the day from 12.30pm to 1.30pm and the other from 5.30pm to 6.30pm in the evening.