Takaka Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade

Since late February this year, a working group of Councillors, Community Board members and local residents has met to resolve issues surrounding the proposed Takaka Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade.

To recap, the main issues have been the need to provide an upgrade to the treatment plant to take account of an aging system, its physical position, a growing demand for increased volumes of wastewater and visual and odour concerns.

The working party have asked Council staff to undertake further site investigations of the land acquired adjacent to the existing plant.

This investigation will be in the form of a Rapid Infiltration Basin (RIB) trial with the purpose of assessing the extent of groundwater distribution associated with future RIB use and to gather additional data to assess groundwater flow direction in the vicinity of the RIBs.

The work will include three individual infiltration tests. The first test will include distributing wastewater to a single RIB continuously over a 24-hour period. This test will essentially act as a “control” for the next two tests and will help identify any issues. Tests 2 and 3 will run continuously to measure the extent of water distribution under the RIB with certainty. This is expected to take about seven days per test. A resting period between tests will allow the groundwater levels to recover to pre-test levels. It is envisioned the three tests will be carried out over a four-five week period.

Before, during and after the testing, water and contaminant levels will be monitored in the groundwater through a series of existing and new monitoring wells.

At the conclusion of testing, the working group will consider the results and the trial RIB will be removed.

Council will further update residents after the trial has been completed.