Work to connect a new temporary water treatment plant to Morrinsville’s existing water network will start on 10 October.

The temporary plant will process water from a new bore in the north east of Morrinsville and will help reduce the effects a dry summer might have on Morrinsville’s water supply. “We made a commitment in the 2021-2031 Long Term Plan to develop a more resilient water supply network. Having the Lockerbie source allows us to continue supplying water to the town even if we have issues at the Waterworks Road plant,” says Council’s water manager Karl Pavlovich.

What you need to know

The work will take a few days, and there is a small chance some households may experience discoloured or dirty water when the new water treatment plant is turned on. Affected households should phone Council.

Council’s Three Waters and Kaimai Valley Services reticulation teams will have a greater presence around Morrinsville during the work. Hydrants may need flushing along the line to minimise potential pressure issues or respond to discoloured water feedback.

What’s happening next

Work continues on getting a Permanent Water Treatment Plant up and running by mid next year. A permanent water treatment plant takes a lot more time to get the necessary approvals and consents to build than the temporary option. The benefit of having a permanent water treatment plant is that it will be able to treat four times the amount of drinking water than what the temporary set up can.

Water supply remains limited

The additional water supply provides greater water security but does not mean the end to water restrictions. We don’t have access to unlimited water. Our consents (with Waikato Regional Council) limit the amount of water we can take, and that’s why limiting its use will continue to happen when there’s a need to lower water demand.

Water’s a precious resource and restrictions are part of Council’s overall water management strategy and are used to manage water demand at peak times of the year. However, we’ll be aiming to manage our water supplies to minimise level 3 and 4 restrictions in future.