Council to consult on Water Supply Strategy

Council is seeking input from the public on drinking water supply options prior to finalising the Taupo District Council’s Water Supply Strategy.

To meet new legislative requirements - but at a cost that has the minimal impact on rates - a water demand management plan will be required to reduce water consumption and therefore confirm the required capacities of new infrastructure.

Group Manager, Infrastructure Services Ted Anderson says water use in Taupo is double the national daily average. “We are right at the top end for water use and need to address this.”

Mr Anderson said that Environment Waikato is also requiring the development of a Water Demand Management Plan as part of the resource consenting process associated with water allocation for everyone that uses Lake Taupo and its tributaries for supplies.

Taupo District Mayor Rick Cooper says this is a wake up call for the Taupo District.
“It’s simple – the new law says that we must improve our drinking water and this means upgrading our infrastructure – the more water we need to treat, the bigger we need to build, and the more it will cost us. So we need to stop using so much water, or pay the price.”

Mayor Cooper says that Council lobbied strongly before the recent Drinking Water Standards were turned into law and will continue to advocate to Central Government.
“We continue to question the reasonableness of the NZ Drinking Water Standards 2005 in relation to the perceived public health risks, especially when this is weighed up against ratepayer affordability.”

Councils also have an obligation to implement Public Health Risk Management Plans which require a systematic assessment of all elements of source, treatment and distribution based on the four barriers of contamination: 1) stop contamination of the raw water, 2) remove particles, 3) kill germs and 4) prevent recontamination after treatment.

Mr Anderson says draft plans have been developed for eight of the 22 larger drinking water supply schemes operated by the Taupo District Council. He says water suppliers must also monitor drinking water and take remedial action if the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards 2005 are breached.

Endorsement and public input of the Draft Water Supply Strategy is now sought prior to financial consideration, timescales and levels of service being considered as part of the LTCCP 2009-2019 process.