The formal opening of Tauranga’s third water treatment plant was celebrated by throwing the doors to the plant open to the public last Saturday, 25 March.
A steady stream of visitors made their way to the Waiāri Water Treatment Plant, adjacent to the Waiāri stream in Te Puke, to take a peek behind the scenes, learn about the treatment process and take part in one of the many fun activities happening on site.
Small group tours provided a window into the brand-new treatment plant that takes water from the Waiāri Stream and is designed to supply more than 35,000 households with drinking water, now and into the future.
Tauranga’s water supply is also drawn from the the Tautau and Waiorohi streams, with the two other treatment plants located at Oropi and Joyce Road.
The Waiāri Water Treatment Plant brings state-of-the-art design and technology together, and back-up functionality is built into essential parts of the process. A zero-water waste policy means all water taken from the Waiāri is used and can leave the site as drinking water.
Water Treatment Manager Rodney Clark and his team of engineers were on hand on Saturday to explain the treatment process and the equipment involved in making it happen. Visitors expressed how impressed they were with the technology and safety built into the process, as well as the skill of the staff involved.
Council’s Water Services Manager Peter Bahrs says he was pleased to see so many people visit the new plant to take a look and learn about the processes behind their drinking water.
“It was great to see so many enjoying the day. Everyone we heard from had a great time learning about the plant and what’s involved in making water safe to drink before it comes out of the tap at home.
“The new water treatment plant will mainly service the Pāpāmoa coastal strip/Te Tumu growth areas and will help take the pressure off the water supply in other areas of the city. In the future, it will also provide a backup for Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s Te Puke water supply.”
The new Waiāri Water Treatment Plant is Tauranga’s third water supply, a project nearly 20 years in the making. The plant takes water from the Waiāri stream, a spring-fed stream with a clear and continuous flow from Otanewainuku through to the Kaituna River and on to Maketu.
We hope to offer more tours of the new plant over the coming months. For more information about the Waiāri Water Supply Scheme visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/waiari