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Media Release

8 June 2012

Taking wastewater out of Tukituki in summer key to reducing phosphorus in river

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has told the Central Hawke’s Bay District Council that moving wastewater out of the Tukituki River during the summer period is key to largely dealing with the phosphorus levels in the river.

The comments were made in a submission presented by HBRC to CHB District Council on its proposed plans for a new wastewater treatment scheme.

Research shows CHB wastewater contributes around 30% of the total catchment phosphorus load in the Tukituki River annually. However this contribution increases to 70% during the critical summer low flow months. High phosphorus levels cause increased algal growth leading to reduced water quality.

CHB District Council has put its resource consent application for a land-based sewage treatment programme for Waipawa and Waipukurau on hold as it considers alternative options and views on the costs of the proposal; however it is still accepting submissions on the initial plan.

HBRC Chief Executive Andrew Newman says the best way to deal with the phosphorus issue in the Tukituki River during summer months is by removing the wastewater from the river completely during that period.

“Our experts tell us the alternative methods being considered, such as worms or floating wetlands will still require chemical dosing for phosphorous before being discharged into the waterway and complex management regimes,” says Andrew Newman.

He says HBRC acknowledges the infrastructure costs of a project such as land treatment is a significant burden on a small community such as Central Hawke’s Bay so HBRC has reviewed the costs of the land treatment system.

“We believe it is possible to deliver the land treatment system around $8.3 million, which is in line with CHB District Council’s previous LTP provision.”

Mr Newman says subject to receiving resource consent for land treatment HBRC has offered to have its engineering team project manage the delivery of the wastewater system for the CHB District Council.

“If this offer is taken up and subject to resource consent, work could potentially be done in spring and summer, resulting in the removal of wastewater from the Tukituki River, during summer periods, approximately two years ahead of the deadline.”

Mr Newman says HBRC would also consider offering CHB District Council bridging finance to ensure the work started this year.

“We have done research and our experts tell us the land treatment system is a viable solution and we are keen to support the Central Hawke’s Bay District Council in implementing that system.”

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