Further Delays for Water Upgrade Horowhenua Councillors Just Can’t Agree on Treatment

By TORRIE, Bronwyn

Levin’s water supply is in desperate need of an upgrade to meet the drinking water standards for New Zealanders by July 2009.

But work on the treatment plant that takes water from Ohau River was further delayed at a Horowhenua District Council meeting this week.

Councillors were given two upgrade options – sand-ballasted clarification, which is water filtered through sand, and off-river raw (untreated) storage, which is a lined pond next to the river on Gladstone Road. Both would cost about $10 million, and staff recommended the pond option.

The current system can not cope with high turbidity of Ohau River. Councillors did not allow the capital budget for this project to be raised to $10.6 million and did not give the green light for the recommended pond option.

Instead, they asked for environmental impact reports for both options and for sand-ballasted clarification to be explored as a likely option.

“We’re suddenly told now that it’s not feasible . . . we’re not getting enough information,” councillor Tony Rush said.

Councillor Leigh McMeeken asked officers to investigate sand- ballasted clarification before she would vote.

“I can’t vote with confidence for a system of raw water storage when I don’t believe that we have done thorough research on the other option. It might be a new process in New Zealand but at this point in time we don’t even now if we can get the sand.”

(c) 2008 Evening Standard; Palmerston North, New Zealand. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.