Little River Water and Wastewater Project
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Introduction
Sewerage treatment in Little River is currently comprised of privately owned and serviced septic tanks. Ageing and dysfunctional tanks, together with high ground water levels and increasing environmental awareness, have increased demand for an alternative solution.
The Little River water supply does not meet the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards, and is insufficient to supply all those within the small settlement zoning that would like to be connected.
Moving to a reticulated system will help overcome these issues and result in significant public and environmental health benefits.
Project Objective
- To provide Little River with a reticulated wastewater disposal system.
- To upgrade the existing water supply infrastructure to meet the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards and the growing water demand in Little River.
Proposed Wastewater System
Click map to view the potential area serviced by the new wastewater system
View Map
It is proposed the new wastewater system should service, at the very least, all properties within the small settlement zones of Little River, Western Valley and Cooptown (View Map).
However the opportunity exists to extend this service to rural-zoned properties located close to pipelines. Whether such properties are connected will depend on the proximity to the pipelines, and the treatment and disposal options selected.
The green-coloured properties on the map are those either within the small settlement and town centre zones or within the area bounded by the 5.68 metre flood contour, where connection to the system would be compulsory.
The tan-coloured properties are those within the rural zone where connection could be practical. These properties have been identified as those where either the property boundary is within 30 metres of the possible wastewater reticulation system or the property contains serviced dwellings located within 20 metres of a watercourse.
Funding for the project is included in the Councils current capital programme, with completion planned for the 2010/11 financial year. It is likely additional funding will be required to complete the project. This will be sought through the next Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) process.
Little River's Water Supply
The Little River water supply does not meet the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards, and is insufficient to supply all those within the small settlement zoning that would like to be connected.
Water demand is predicted to increase as a result of population growth, and the existing water source will not be able to supply sufficient water. This means a new source of water is required, to either supply enough water in its own right to meet demand, or to act as a supplementary source.
A technical issues and options report has been prepared for the water supply. It considers the work necessary to enable the water supply to meet the Drinking Water Standards, and looks at alternative ways to supply additional water, and extend the reticulation system.
The areas water supply infrastructure is less than 30 years old and while some assets are in reasonable condition, other assets need to be replaced or upgraded. Upgrading the existing Little River water treatment plant has been identified as the first priority.
Funding has been allocated for upgrading the plant to meet the Drinking Water Standards, although the priority of the upgrade is currently being reassessed against other Banks Peninsula drinking water supplies, so that highest risk supplies are attended to first. The work is likely to be completed by 2011 at the latest.
No funding is currently allocated for expansion of the reticulation system, and for the connection to an additional water supply source. This will be put forward for consideration in the next Long Term Council Community Plan.
Consultation
An independent organisation, W2R (waste to resource) has carried out out interviews with members of the community to gain an understanding of the community's views on water and wastewater in Little River.
Following this interview process it is proposed that further discussion with the community take place, centred on the technical options reports that have been prepared. It is expected that this will result in selection of an affordable wastewater treatment and disposal system that meets the needs of the community.
Project Timelines
February 2008 |
Issues and Options Report |
January to August 2008 |
Public Consultation 1: Interviews completed by W2R and collation and analysis of the results |
September to October 2008 |
Public Consultation 2: Dialogue with the community on technical options available |
November 2008 to January 2009 |
Site Survey and Geotech Survey |
November 2008 to February 2009 |
Feasibility Study for preferred option completed |
March to May 2009 |
Design |
July to September 2009 |
Tender |
June to August 2010 |
Construction commences |
Contact Us
Christchurch City Council
Email jonathan.santos@ccc.govt.nz
Phone 03 941 8336
W2R
Email Alan.Leckie@scionresearch.com
Phone (03) 364 2987 ext 7207
FAQ
What is the proposed sewer network?
The wastewater system will collect domestic wastewater from the toilet, bath, shower, kitchen and laundry from each property and transport to a wastewater treatment plant.
Who is paying for the scheme?
The cost of building the system will be spread across the entire new City rating base. Dwelling owners will have to pay for pipework and any other works within their own property. Council will assist were possible and will encourage connection at the time of the scheme construction. The dwelling owner will pay normal Council sewerage rates if the dwelling is in the area of the scheme, even if you are not connected. Dwellings outside the area will not pay sewerage rates.
As a property owner, once the system is up and running?
You will be responsible for any connection work on your own property. This will involve disconnecting and making safe the septic system and laying a pipe from the house to the connection point at the property boundary. A building consent will be required for this work. Council will require all property owners to connect within two years of the system commission.
Can the Council help?
The Council can help property owners to connect to the new wastewater system by organising a registered drainlayer to undertake the work and by coordinating the building consents. Because of the potential number of properties involved, this should help to reduce the cost of the work to property owners and speed up the process.
Will I incur any other costs?
Christchurch City Council standard sewerage rates charge for ongoing cost of treating wastewater will be added to your rates if your property is within the limits of the scheme, whether on not you are connected.
What is the service area of the sewerage system and can the service be extended to include additional properties?
It is proposed the wastewater system should service, at the very least, all properties within the small settlement zones of Little River, Western Valley and Cooptown (View Map). However there is a chance the properties outside the small settlement zone but adjacent to the conveyance pipelines can be served by the new wastewater system.
What is the type of treatment system used?
This has not yet been decided.
How will the treated wastewater be dealt with?
No decision has been made, but so far disposal to water and land treatment options have been considered.
What is proposed for the water supply in Little River?
The existing plant is to be upgraded to meet New Zealand Drinking Water Standards. Funding is to be sought through the next Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) process for extending the existing reticulation, and supplementing the existing water source.
What will connecting to the water supply cost?
If the funding is approved and the scheme goes ahead, the standard Christchurch City Council water rate will be charged to all property owners who have access to the extended reticulation and who choose to connect. Property owners who choose not to connect will be charged half the standard rate. Current full water rates are $31 per $100,000 of capital value. All necessary plumbing work on the property will be the owner’s responsibility and cost, and the Council has a standard connection fee that is currently $500 (GST included).
Where will additional source be for future water demand?
Four options for supplementary sources are identified namely: an intake on the Hukahuka Turoa Stream, an intake on the Opuahou Steam, an intake on the Okana River and a well source in the Little River. Based on the assessment, the intake in Opuahou Stream and Okana River are the most likely options for consideration. |
