The Te Kuiti Water Treatment Plant (TKWTP) needs significant upgrade to meet the Drinking-water Standards for New Zealand 2005 (revised 2008), that has application to the Te Kuiti supply with effect from 1 July 2014.

Council approved a project to upgrade this essential infrastructure as part of the Long Term Plan 2012-22. The first three years of this project involves the design, construction and commission of the upgrade - which is to commence in the 2013/14 financial year.

WDC’s application to the Ministry of Health funding was successful, with $780,820.56 (excluding GST) being granted.

Due to affordability concerns the TKWTP will be progressively upgraded over the period 2013-2022. This includes an additional storage reservoir to increase storage from less than 12 hours to 24 hours (as required by Drinking Water Act).

Progress to date

As detailed design of the TKWTP was developed it soon become apparent that a holistic plan of the total upgrade is needed to ensure the funding is optimised and the final product is the best that the available money can buy. Items that are needed for the upgrade that have a long manufacturing and/ or delivery time have been ordered.

Construction work is expected to start around April/ May 2014.