40 | Strong public support for project The improvements include new ultraviolet (UV) treatment systems, new plant buildings and increased automation. Western Bay of Plenty District Council T T Anne Boswell REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Significant upgrades to the Athenree and Wharawhara Water Treatment Plants are underway, driven by the need to meet the higher national drinking water standards set by Taumata Arowai. Western Bay of Plenty District Council has invested in modernising both facilities to ensure residents continue to receive safe, reliable drinking water. The improvements include new ultraviolet (UV) treatment systems, new plant buildings and increased automation to bring the plants in line with today’s strict compliance requirements. “The main aim is to provide safe drinking water up to national water standards,” Western Bay of Plenty District Council Water Services project engineer Fazrul Khairy says. At Athenree, site constraints at the existing hilltop facility made it difficult to expand. Instead, Council designed and built a new treatment building 200 metres downhill, adjacent to the bore where space was readily available. The new facility incorporates the latest water treatment infrastructure, while reusing functioning equipment, such as analysers, from the old site to save ratepayers’ money. “As the land was a dedicated water supply zone, it was easier to build new infrastructure to cater for the upgrade,” Fazrul says. In Wharawhara, flooding risks shaped the design. The original water treatment plant, located beside the river in a flood-prone area, was demolished and rebuilt on the same platform, but raised to withstand a 50-year flood level. This ensures the plant will remain a resilient, long-term asset for the community. A major benefit of the upgrades is the addition of automated systems that allow both plants to be monitored and controlled remotely from Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s Barkes Corner office. This reduces the need for on-site staff, minimises human error and enables round-the-clock monitoring. If an alarm is triggered, operators can immediately identify the issue and take action. Council must also submit monitoring data monthly to Taumata Arowai, providing reassurance that the systems are performing consistently at the required standard. “These plants are now designed not just to meet today’s standards, but to ensure future compliance as regulations continue to evolve,” Fazrul says. Throughout construction, Council worked closely with the community and engaged iwi to undertake cultural assessments. Public support has been strong, with residents recognising the long-term value of the investment in safe, reliable water. “It has been a fun project,” Fazrul says. “It has been a smooth process. I’m proud of it.” Alongside the Taumata Arowai upgrades, Council is also implementing a directive from the Ministry of Health to fluoridate drinking water. Fluoride has already been added at Athenree, with Wharawhara scheduled to be completed by late August. The directive requires fluoride levels to remain within the Ministry’s recommended range of 0.7–1.0 parts per million. Enhancing Water Security for Athenree and Wharawhara Clean, reliable drinking water is essential for every community. For the Athenree and Wharawhara water treatment plants, ageing treatment infrastructure and increasingly stringent regulatory standards made it clear that signi icant upgrades were needed. The Western Bay of Plenty District Council (WBOPDC) put the work out to competitive tender and Apex Water was proud to be selected as the successful contractor to design and deliver these vital improvements. With both sites located in remote areas and presenting logistical challenges, Apex knew a smart, integrated approach would be critical to achieving long-term success. Apex Water worked closely with WBOPDC throughout the project, alongside a team of trusted subcontractors and specialists, to ensure the delivery was smooth, e icient and high quality. From early design stages through to inal commissioning, collaboration was key—fostering open communication, clear roles and shared problem-solving that helped keep the programme on track and the outcomes aligned with the council’s expectations. The result was two modern water treatment plants that meet the latest New Zealand Drinking Water Standards. These upgrades go beyond compliance, they represent a proactive investment in public health and infrastructure resilience. Each facility was designed to achieve full 4-log credit compliance under the Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules, ensuring safe, high-quality drinking water for years to come. Rather than simply replacing existing systems, Apex took a whole-of-system view, identifying opportunities to improve performance, reduce operational risks and make best use of existing infrastructure. Key decisions included reusing what we could, tailoring designs to each site, and integrating advanced automation for enhanced control and reliability. The new plants are built to meet each community’s unique demands: Athenree now has a production capacity of 5,200 m per day, and Wharawhara 9,500 m . Both facilities include dedicated areas for chemical treatment, UV disinfection, chlorine dosing, and luoridation, ensuring a robust multi-barrier approach to water quality. Purpose-built spaces for MCCs, laboratories and sta amenities support long-term operability and compliance. Apex delivered both projects in just eight months, from securing building consents to commissioning. That timeline was made possible by strong planning, technical expertise and a genuinely collaborative approach across all parties involved. Today, both Athenree and Wharawhara bene it from clean, reliable water every day. This project is a great example of what can be achieved through strong partnerships, thoughtful design and a shared commitment to building better infrastructure for the future.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=