Water supply and quality a top concern for many this month
Takaka's volunteer firefighters say they are used to watching dead possums, rats and birds float around in rainwater tanks they are filling.
The prolonged dry spell (see rainfall figures page 8) means that lots of water tanks need to be topped up. The volunteer fire brigades provide a service, using their tankers for the job. Some of those involved in the water deliveries, however, are concerned about the state of the tanks they are topping up. One firefighter estimated that about 90% of the tanks he has filled were dirty.
"The water we supply has been tested and passed as potable," said Takaka fireman George Duff. "But it's a bit of a waste to put water that's been rated the best in the country on top of the stuff in the bottom of some of the tanks the deliverers see. People should really get their tanks properly cleaned out before they get a delivery."
Jon Osmers of Golden Bay Tank Cleaning Services says that when tanks are nearly empty there are plenty of things his company can do to improve the quality of people's everyday drinking water.
"We offer a water-blasting service that cleans the inside surfaces," said Jon. "But we can supply and fit various fittings to improve the long-term quality of people's drinking water too."
In Takaka town the provision of an effective fire-fighting water supply has been an issue for more than a year. The proposed solution will add to the rates burden of people across the Tasman District to a greater or lesser extent, depending on where they live (see box).
A working party was set up by the Tasman District Council over a year ago. It included representatives from the fire service, TDC staff, the community board and council, and also Tony Sandall, a community representative.
The working party's proposal was explained at community consultation meetings in Takaka last week. It consists of a pressurised and reticulated water supply for fire-fighting purposes only.The estimated cost is $1.065 million, and the working party recommended that the costs should be borne as follows: 10% by the Tasman District as a whole, 23% by the Golden Bay ward, 17% by the Takaka residential area and 50% by ratepayers in the Takaka CDB. A further $20,000 worth of annual maintenance costs would be borne by ratepayers in the combined Takaka residential area and CBD. For the purposes of calculating these rates, Takaka residential and commercial CBD properties will be excluded from the Golden Bay ward.
TDC engineering services manager Peter Thomson explained that the New Zealand Fire Service says that Takaka's existing firewells are unacceptable because they cannot supply enough water, and in some cases are unusable.
As well as holding the two public information meetings in Takaka last week, council has distributed a summary of information document throughout Golden Bay. Submissions on the proposal close on 16 February. They can be sent to Robyn Scherer, engineering secretary, TDC, Private Bag 4, Richmond or by email to robyn.scherer@tdc.govt.nz.
Neil Wilson
