One of Council’s major statutory responsibilities is to promote and protect public health through the supply of clean, safe drinking water. Water is currently reticulated to more than half of the population via three supply schemes serving the Opotiki town/Hikutaia/Waoitahi Drifts area, Te Kaha and Ohiwa.
Those schemes consist of 103 kilometres of water pipes, six pump stations and 258 fire hydrants and have a replacement value of some $12.5 million. Annual operating costs are approximately $800,000, recovered via targeted rates and direct fees and charges.
Water is treated to achieve New Zealand Drinking Water Standards and the integrity of the systems is maintained by ongoing expenditure on maintenance and equipment improvements.
The District water schemes have sufficient capacity to cater for projected population and industry growth over the next 10 years at least.