Water reservoir to cost $1.8m

Feilding’s water supply is about to be strengthened, but the new water reservoir comes with a $1.8 million price tag.

The Manawatu¯ town was earmarked for a replacement after a review highlighted the need for a more secure water storage facility in the event of a major earthquake.

Town reservoirs typically hold enough water to supply the township for one day.

Until now, this has been stored at the Almadale Water Treatment Plant, built in the 1960s, and one at Macdonald Heights, constructed in 1983.

However, rapid development and population growth in ‘‘precinct four’’, near Pharazyn St, and rezoning of industrial land on Kawakawa and Turners roads meant the existing storage volume was inadequate for the town’s future demand.

Compounding the problem, the Almadale reservoir was inspected in 2012 and was reported to be in ‘‘poor’’ structural condition, requiring a substantial refurbishment if it were to be used in the Feilding water supply network in the long term, Manawatu¯ District Council special projects manager Chris Pepper said.

The council received two tenders to build the new reservoir, opposite its existing water tank at Macdonald Heights, with one coming in at $1.8m and the other at $3.4m.

Other work to strengthen Feilding’s water resilience is scheduled, including an additional bore on the northern side of the O¯ roua River, treatment upgrades at the existing Campbell Rd and Newbury Line bores and improvements to the main underground pipes.

Council infrastructure general manager Hamish Waugh said he expected construction of the reservoir to take three months over winter.

The cost of the reservoir will be shared by properties connected to the water supply.