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Whatatutu water supply granted
Media Release
Whatatutu water supply
granted
A $386,000 subsidy for upgrading the Whatatutu community to a treated water supply was awarded to Gisborne District Council last week.
“We’re very pleased that our application was successful and we can make clean safe drinking water available to the Whatatutu community,” says water utilities manager Neville West.
“The current supply doesn’t meet New Zealand Drinking Water Standards,”
“There are high levels of sediment from the bore, which the process equipment cannot treat adequately.”
The upgrade will allow all households to connect up to a 100% treated water supply and more water would be available.
“Without MoH funding an upgrade costing $500,000 may have fallen to the ratepayer, or without it, if the existing system stopped working residents would become fully reliant on rainwater supply and delivered tankers to top up.”
Council submitted an application for 85% of funding to the Ministry earlier this year in February.
“This has taken considerable effort to get across the line,” says Mr West. An original application prepared by OPUS in 2014 was declined.
As part of the funding requirements residents and owners in Whatatutu needed to agree if it went ahead all houses would eventually need to progress onto the new system.
“We met with people in Whatatutu to talk about the options. Everyone who responded with feedback agreed that the upgrade would be best for their health and well-being.”
The funding contract will be finalised with the Ministry of Health in the next month and then a tender put out for the design and construction.
“We expect the supply to be in and running by June next year.”
Mayor Meng Foon, says the Whatatutu community will see a marked improvement on water quality, consistent supply and improved general health in this community.
“I know the community has been looking forward to this upgrade.
“I wish to acknowledge staff for their efforts and the Minister of health Minister Jonathan Coleman for supporting our application.”
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