Martinborough “3 Waters” fix-up costs and time-frames grow longer

Multiple non-compliance issues, multiple time-frames and multiple costs at multiple South Wairarapa water treatment plants _ that’s part of the picture painted by Wellington Water at its most recent update meeting for the region’s three councils.

“In South Wairarapa, the (sewerage) treatment plants are either out of consent or in breach of consent,” Wellington Water CEO Tonia Haskell told the committee. 

She noted Martinborough’s waste water treatment plant “is not compliant” with the legal requirements, while Lake Ferry, Featherston and Greytown are “compliant but with noted issues.”

The Martinborough the waste-water discharge rate and quality to both river and land is currently exceeding consent conditions.

Other SWDC waste-water plants in Featherston (needs additional improvements) Lake Ferry (extra funding), and Greytown (major investment to avoid a non-compliance notice) all require urgent attention.

It was noted that “most of the (drinking) water treatment plants” in South Wairarapa are also “not compliant.”

Non-compliance at the Martinborough plant revolved around the site not having “key monitoring” equipment installed.

The Pirinoa water treatment plant has still to meet process assurance rules in its operation.

 “Insufficient treatment” at the Waiohine and Memorial Park plants meant they were not compliant with new rules – and did not have key monitoring gear installed.

Carterton and Masterton plants also were non-compliant because they lacked critical monitoring equipment.

Earlier, Wellington Water advised councils that regional capital investment in the order of $30 billion is required over the next 30 years to deliver on all the region’s strategic water priorities. 

It also noted “this level of investment is unaffordable and currently undeliverable.”

Through an “iterative process” with the councils, Wellington Water said it has developed capital programmes that fit the councils’ preferred/affordable budgets ($3.63 billion).

These projections exclude SWDC which Wellington Water noted “has confirmed it will pursue an Annual Planning approach, as enabled by the new policy framework. The regional figures exclude SWDC.”

No further details were immediately available

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