Most of us just turn the tap on and the water flows.
But making that happen is a massive undertaking and the $81m Papakura Water Treatment Plant has helped boost the city’s supply by 12 million litres a day.
The plant reinstates the Hays Creek Dam, out of service for 15 years but fast-tracked by Watercare in the wake of severe drought in 2020.
Papakura Local Board chair Brent Catchpole joined Manurewa Local Board chair Matt Winiata and Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor Daniel Newman on a plant tour recently.
“You have to be impressed by what Watercare has achieved,” Catchpole says.
“It’s a remarkable project that had to be delivered in carefully considered stages, the first putting in a temporary treatment plant and a new main to carry water from the dam. That was completed quickly and gave the city a six -million-litres-a-day boost.”
While that work was taking place, Newman says, the new Waikato treatment plant was being delivered.
“Once that came online, contractors were able to start replacing the temporary Papakura plant with a permanent one capable of producing 12 million litres a day.
“All that has put the city in a much more secure space. Our supply now has added safeguards and that gives Auckland more resilience.”
Looks a lot better the more it is filtered!
Watercare chief strategy and planning officer Priyan Perera says the devastating floods that hit the city last year proved too much rain was as big a problem as too little.
“Slips in the west meant the Huia water treatment plant was operating at reduced capacity. The 12-million-litre boost from the completed Papakura plant – enough for 24,000 homes, adds to our water security.”
The temporary structure was largely built in containers, the design making it easier to relocate equipment into the new plant to keep costs down at a facility that has also helped Watercare reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by using solar panels to help with energy efficiency.
Newman says visiting the plant underlined how much goes into delivering clean water to the city’s residents.
“Papakura is one of the most advanced treatment plants in the country and uses the latest technologies to keep our water safe.
“I’m particularly impressed by the measures Watercare and contractors Brian Perry Civil took to establish good relationships with residents and mana whenua throughout the build, and they need to be congratulated for that.”
He says Papakura had also been a learning experience, “Watercare has established a design it can use again, reducing design costs. That means benefits beyond just turning the tap on and getting quality clean water.”
Stay connected
Sign up for your Local Board E-news and get the latest news and events direct to your inbox each month.
