Study outlines a less costly option for coastal water supplies

A District Wide Water Study, commissioned by the Council to examine options for supplying water to coastal water schemes, shows that localised water treatment plants are a much cheaper option than a previously proposed coastal pipeline.

Council’s assets manager for water and wastewater, Martin Pacey, said that the study looks at future demand for water in the coastal area from south of Oamaru to Palmerston and how the supply schemes can comply with the New Drinking Water Standards, which became law earlier this year.

“The study outlines two main options for supplying water to these areas – a pipeline from Oamaru to Palmerston at an estimated cost of $28 million, or a pipeline from Oamaru to Weston, with individual treatment plants at water scheme sites southwards to Palmerston at an estimated cost of $7million.”

The study was presented to Waitaki rural water scheme committee representatives for discussion yesterday. Mr Pacey said that this was to provide an opportunity for the committees to provide feedback on the options prior to Council including a proposal in the Waitaki Community Plan for public consultation early next year.

“At this stage, we are favouring the $7 million option because it will achieve compliance with the Drinking Water Standards at a far cheaper cost and will also provide for expected growth in the affected areas. In addition, this option appears to be more likely to attract some Government subsidy.”

Although the cheaper option is preferred, Mr Pacey said there is still a lot more investigation to be done around the details of the proposal.

“For some of the affected water supplies, upgrading them to meet the Drinking Water Standards will be a fairly straightforward matter. However, other supplies will require much more detailed engineering investigations and planning.”

Water schemes affected by this study include Weston, Enfield, Kakanui, Herbert-Waianakaru, Hampden Moeraki, Palmerston, Goodwood, Stoneburn and Dunback. Upgrades for all other water schemes throughout the District will also be included in the Community Plan, with the exception of Oamaru, which was recently upgraded to comply with the new standards.