Upgrade of Huia water treatment plant preferred option

The Council’s Environmental Management Committee yesterday supported an upgrade of the Huia Village Water Treatment Plant by Watercare Services Limited, saying it is the best option for ensuring that the area’s water supply achieves an ‘A’ grading under new national drinking water standards.

The Committee also authorised the Huia/Cornwallis Local Water Agenda Group to carry out a survey of local residents and ratepayers whose properties are supplied by the treatment plant to ascertain whether or not they want the water supply to be fluoridated.

Huia Village residents are currently supplied with water treated by Watercare at a small local water treatment plant, built in 1971.

The New Zealand Drinking Water Standards 2000 introduced new standards for water treatment, which must be complied with by 1 January 2005 if the Huia treatment plant is to maintain its ‘A’ grading with the Ministry of Health. Without an upgrade, the treatment plant would achieve only a ‘D’ grading.

A recent survey and open day asked local residents for their views on three possible water supply options. They include: supplying Huia Village with water treated at the Huia Filter Station (on Woodlands Park Rd) via a new pipeline from Parau, upgrading the existing local plant at Huia Village or replacing the reticulated supply with individual water tanks.

Almost 90% of the 32 participants said they preferred an upgrade of the treatment plant. Twelve people specifically mentioned fluoride treatment as the reason for their choice.

The Huia/Cornwallis Local Water Agenda Group met to discuss the results and unanimously agreed to recommend to the Council that the Huia plant be upgraded and that the group be able to conduct a second survey on the fluoridation issue.

Upgrading of the Huia plant will be fully funded by Watercare.

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