Rethink on water treatment

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 40, 24 March 1987, Page 1

Rethink on water treatment

Chairman of the council's works and reserves committee Cr Bruce Thompson passed on to councillors a recommendation made by the council's engineering consultant Payne Sewell to further consider the possibility of chlorination of the town's water supply as a far cheaper means of disinfection when compared with ultra-vfolet disinfection. Cr Thompson said at last week's council meeting that Mr Payne of Payne Sewell Ltd was concerned that the council had not given enough thought to the cost difference between chlorination at around $20,000 without filtration and the ultra-violet disinfection method that would cost around $239,000. Cr Thompson commented that he couldn't see how these two figures could be compared. Cr Thompson said Mr Payne was of the opinion that there would be no need for filtration if chlorination was used. The added cost of filtration would make a significant difference to the quote of around $20,000 as it is one of the biggest expenses related to chlorination systems. Cr Ron Burrows was of the opinion that the filtration of the water was most important. "1 believe if you turn the tap on and see dirty water you think of germs and the complaints (of ratepayers) are mostly related to dirty water," he said. Filtration is a very important part of this and it's a bonus of the ultra-violet

treatment because UV treatment and filtration go hand in hand." The council decided to approach the Ministry of Works and Development about the possibility of a water engineer addressing the works committee and answering questions concerning the ultra-violet method. A letter received by Mr Payne from the Wanganui Area Health Board concerning treatment proposals advised that any proposals utilizing ultra-violet disinfection "would require special precautions to ensure adequate protection of the supply is maintained." "Filtration of the raw water is essential, and due to technical reasons, a slow sand filter should be used," it read. ★ ★ ★ Ohakune's Mayor Bill Taylor brought councillors up to date with the Wanganui United Council at last week's meeting of the Ohakune Borough Council. "There is no doubt that the United Council's venture into forestry is proving successful and should be of benefit to those members of the United Council and other local authorities who are shareholders in the venture," he said. During April there will be a visit to the United Council forest and Mayor Taylor invited members of the Borough Council to join him on that occasion. Mayor Taylor said the tourism report presented to the United Council for its debate and adoption met with a fairly stormy

response with Wanganui city and the surrounding counties of Wanganui and Waitotara being largely in agreement with the thrust of the report but with a considerably cooler response from those authorities on the periphery of the regional areas; "1 most certainly made the point that our future, as far as tourism is concerned is likely to lie as much if not more, with the T ongariro region as with the Wanganui United Council region," he said. ★ ★ ★ Trucks parking on the footpath to fill up with diesel at Cedar Service Station in Ohakune may be creating a problem for pedestrians. Service station regulations state that if a pump is within three metres of the boundary a high wall should be erected along the boundary. Similarly, if a pump is within 4.5 metres of the boundary, a low wall to direct traffic should be erected. The Ohakune Borough Council agreed that there was no quick solution to the problem at Cedar Service Station. The Managers of Cedar had approached the owner of the property to obtain extra land adjacent

to the station to alleviate the problem and had been refused. Cr Errol Sue agreed there was a definite problem after he made a point of visiting the service statioa while trucks were filling up and believes there is nothing the management can do, apart from erect a wall which will likely result in a loss of business. The management of Cedar Service Station say they will talk to truck drivers and ask them not to park on he footpath. ★ ★ ★ Building permits issued for the period from last April up until February 1987 are double that for the same period the previous year. Thirteen building permits have been issued with a total value of nearly $2.5 million compared, to seven permits at a total value of $1.7 million for the period April 1985 — February 1986. * ★ * Cr Thompson reported that the swimming baths have now closed for the season and a letter thanking baths attendant Jacinta Keenan has been sent.