Residents consulted on wastewater

Existing areas serviced by Army Bay Wastewater Treatment Plan (in orange) and planned future development areas (in green). Residents attended two open days to have their say about Watercare’s plans for the infrastructure needed to cope with growth.

Where to put all the wastewater that will flow from this region as it develops more intensively is something Watercare is addressing.

A team of Watercare staff and specialist consultants is preparing for when its discharge consent at the Army Bay treatment plant expires in three years by studying the whole catchment and considering a raft of options.

One thing Watercare knows for sure is that they will have plenty of wastewater to dispose of. Auckland Council’s growth projections indicate that the Army Bay plant currently services a population of around 46,000 on the peninsula, Orewa, Hatfields Beach and Silverdale. Future development to the west in Silverdale, Dairy Flat and Wainui (including the massive Milldale residential development) will bring that population to around 180,000 by 2053.

At public open days last month in Whangaparaoa and Millwater, Watercare laid out its proposals.
Consenting project manager Ban Najim Aldin says they are looking for the best practical option, which is likely to be a mix. Among the suggestions are building a new treatment plant and outfall and using a relatively small percentage of the wastewater to irrigate land (such as in regional parks or golf clubs).
The 35-year consent sought also allows for new technology to come into play, such as filtering wastewater to the stage where it is drinkable again.

The first task is to identify the best solutions, taking into consideration cultural, environmental and engineering aspects. Cost and construction –whether the proposals can be feasibly built and the budget – is the next hurdle.

Further public feedback will be sought once Watercare has shortlisted some options, expected to be in May. Watercare plans to lodge consent applications for its preferred options with Council in July.
Info: www.watercare.co.nz