Ruapehu water works costs down

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 687, 20 May 1997, Page 16

Ruapehu water works costs down

The Ruapehu District Council Draft Annual Plan contains details about the cost of pro viding water supplies throughout the district. Within the overall budget of $2,085,000 (compared with $2,250,000 last year) individual budgets are itemised and, while most of them remain at or about the same level as last year, operating costs at the Ohakune water treatment plant have decreased significantly since the installation of a streaming current monitor in January of this year. There is now no need for an operator to be present to run the treatment plant dur-

ing storm conditions when heavy rain is falling in the catchment area above the intake. This monitor also ensures that chemicals are introduced at the optimum dosage thereby reducing running costs. The proposed budget for operating and maintaining the Ohakune water supply has thus been reduced by $45,000 from $290,000 last year to $244,000 this year. National Park: $66,000 ($67,000); Owhango: $37,000 ($34,000); Ohakune: $244,000 ($290,000); Raetihi: $73,000 ($73,000); Waiouru: $23,000

($23,0Q0). As will be seen from the above budgets there is no change in the case of Raetihi and Waiouru. However, Council are aiming to complete investigations into Raetihi' s water supply to determine the capacity and type of water treatment plant required for Raetihi. In Waiouru, ratepayers purchase water from the New Zealand Army and this present charging regime is expected to continue.