Decision on water

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 45, 28 April 1987, Page 1

Decision on water

After almost ten years of debate and indecision over the town's water supply treatment the Ohakune Borough Council has decided upon an ultra-violet light method of disinfection. At last week's full council meeting a motion was put forward by councillor Ben Goddard to implement a U V system incorporating a multi-media filtration system. The council's decision was by majority, with works committee chairman Bruce Thompson, councillor Ellen Gould and Mayor Bill Taylor voting against the motion. Bill Taylor said he was in favour of the chlorination method of disinfection, though he will now support the majority decision of council. Councillors felt that time was running out on the issue with the possibility of subsidies soon to be no longer available. Council will now apply for a one-third subsidy on the cost of the scheme from the Health Department. The department has indicated that it will subsidize the UV scheme. The ultra-violet method of disinfection is not uncommon overseas but is only in use in one other town supply in New Zealand. The Health Department has rated Ohakune's water as being among the lowest in quality in the country at

present and at times the water has been below World Health Organisation standards. Council also voted on a motion, to duplicate the mains water supply pipeline. Council had been informed by the engineering consultants that the life of the existing pipe was diminishing and that it was too small to cater for the town's future growth. Councillor Ben Goddard said by installing a new 12inch pipe they would more than double the capacity as well as increase the life of the existing 8-inch pipe. The vote on the motion to duplicate the pipe was unanimously in favour. Other options open to council for water treatment were a chlorination system with or without filtration and instead of the duplicate pipe, a proposal to extend the mains to a site in Soldiers Road were two storage tanks would be installed. Councillors felt in the main that filtration was necessary for better water quality. Many felt that the look of the water is part of its quality. The ultra-violet disinfection system to be implemented involves water filtration under pressure in a multi-media system. The water then passes around ultra-violet lamps installed in a chamber. The ultraviolet light in this chamber kills bacteria in the water. No chemicals are added in the process.