QLDC Survey: Preferred option for Hāwea Wastewater Management

Council NewsThree WatersEnvironmental NewsQLDC Survey

11 Dec

A preferred option for treating and disposing of wastewater from Hāwea has been released and is now open for feedback.

The existing Hāwea Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) was built in 1988 and subsequently upgraded in 2000. Fast forward over 20 years and the Hāwea WWTP cannot satisfactorily meet current and growing demand. As a result we are consistently failing to meet discharge consent conditions.

We're planning an interim upgrade to the existing wastewater treatment plant to alleviate immediate operational issues. We've also now landed on a preferred long-term option that can respond to and futureproof Hāwea’s wastewater needs.

We invite you to consider the proposal and provide feedback.

The preferred option

The preferred option is to pump wastewater to the Project Pure wastewater treatment plant for treatment and disposal. A new pipeline would be installed between Hāwea and Albert Town, where it would connect into Wānaka’s wastewater scheme. Upgrades to the infrastructure from Albert Town onwards would also be completed to cater for the increased volume.

This has been selected as the preferred option because it provides the best balance of environmental, social, cost and resilience benefits. Of the options considered, it is likely to be the fastest solution to implement, and can be constructed within the 'design life' of the interim solution.