Rūātoki water supply to be upgraded

Residents of Rūātoki are set to benefit from a joint project to upgrade the area’s water supply system. 


The $1.2m project will provide improved access to safe drinking water and is being funded largely by an $857,000


contribution from the Ministry of Health. Housing New Zealand is contributing $250,000 and the remaining $93,000 will


be funded by the Whakatāne District Council.


The project has been welcomed by Tūhoe Te Uru Taumatua. Chairman Tamati Kruger says the infrastructural


investment into the Rūātoki community addresses long-held concerns about water quality and Tūhoe acknowledged


the efforts of the project partners in recognising that basic priority.


WDC Manager Utilities Santha Agas says the upgrading will begin this month and involves “treatment plant and pipe


network improvements, installation of a larger reservoir, the expansion of the water piping network to include more


properties and, potentially, the installation of a new bore”.


“The upgrade will increase system capacity and overcome the storage and treatment issues which have impacted on


drinking water quality in the past,” he says. “There are currently only 170 connections linking Rūātoki residents to the


supply and the upgrade will allow more people to have ready access to reliable, high quality drinking water. The project


period will extend for one year and any residents who apply for a connection to the system during that time will not


have to contribute to the cost of extending the piping network to their property boundaries, because the subsidy funding


will cover that work. The cost of connections from the property boundary to the house will be the responsibility of the


property owner, however.”


Residents in the area began receiving detailed information on the project this week and will be asked to complete a


survey which will help the Council to determine which Rūātoki properties would benefit from a connection. The project


information also explains the ongoing supply and maintenance costs which would arise from a connection to the water


supply system.


Residents who have existing connections are likely to benefit from improved water flow and pressure as a result of the


upgrading.


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