Whitianga Water Supply Strategy

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In March 2022 Council commissioned Lutra Consultants Limited to carry out a study of a long-term water supply strategy for future-proofing the public water supply in Whitianga.

The study is being carried out in two stages:

  • Stage 1 - the development of potential water supply management options. Stage 1 was completed in 2023.
  • Stage 2 - the identification of a water supply strategy, which will outline recommended short and long-term options and investigations. These include three strategic areas as detailed below.

Reduce water usage:

  • Installation of water meters and achieved a 15% water demand drop
  • Water restrictions - only used when required (no restrictions in the summer of 2025/26)
  • Educational summer booklet shared with communities
  • Technology trials - not progressed at this time

Improve efficiency:

  • Refurbishment the original timber tank reservoir at the Water Treatment Plant, meaning we now have 6000m3 of capacity (not 3000m3)
  • Water renewal projects – Upgrading old water mains
  • Focus on reducing water losses

Increase supply:

  • Increasing capacity of water supply (pending assessment of improvements from the above strategic areas)

A governance level update was made to the Mercury Bay Community Board regarding the Stage 1 outcomes, outlining the next steps and key risks through an information report at its 28 February 2024 meeting.

Plans to progress Stage 2 of the Whitianga Water Supply Strategy were received and approved at the 6 August 2024 Council meeting.

  • View the comprehensive report presented at a 21 February 2023 meeting here.
  • View the Council paper outlining Stage 2 here.

The need for a water supply strategy

The Whangamaroro River to the south of the Whitianga town is currently the sole water source. The volume of water that can be abstracted from the Whangamaroro river is limited by resource consent conditions set by Waikato Regional Council. This resource consent expires on 30 April 2055.

Following a drought during the 2019/2020 summer coupled with a drop in river levels and a very high-water demand, Council imposed water restrictions to manage demand and comply with resource consent conditions.

Demand for water is high over the summer months when the resident population is increased by an influx of bach owners and other holiday makers. 

Following the 2019/20 drought event, our Council requested staff to undertake investigations to find an additional water source to secure the public water supply in Whitianga. This led to the need to develop a long-term public water supply strategy for Whitianga. The design horizon for the strategy study is 50 years.

 

Location

Whitianga, Mercury Bay   View Map

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