Upgraded water ‘better than Champagne’
BETTER than Champagne, was Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan’s verdict on the water, as he took his first taste from the upgraded Alexandra and Clyde water supply yesterday.
Central Otago District Council Three Waters director Julie Muir said safety, resilience and growth were the driving factors in the upgrade.
While the current water supply was safe, it — like many others around the country — did not comply with the New Zealand standard, as it was not tested for protozoa.
However, the new plant was fully compliant, would be resilient in the case of adverse events and would allow for the area’s growing population.
The $16.1 million upgrade to
Wetting their whistles . . .Toasting the completion of the new water treatment plant for Clyde and Alexandra at Clyde with their first taste of the water are Central Otago District Council Three Waters director Julie Muir, Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan (centre) and capital projects programme manager Patrick Keenan.
Alexandra and Clyde water supplies began in 2018, and included expanding the Clyde bore field and constructing a membrane treatment plant and water storage tanks.
A main pipeline between Clyde
and Alexandra, completed in 2020, was part of the project.
Council capital projects programme manager Patrick Keenan said the staff and contractors involved in the Lake Dunstan supply project should be very proud.
‘‘Despite some Covid curveballs, the project came in very close to budget and only a few weeks out from our revised timeline, which is a real testament to the hard work contributed . . . The benefits this project will bring to our community, as we bid farewell to the dreaded limescale, will be felt for generations to come.’’
The system was constantly monitored, would operate using its own generators if there was an extended power failure, and did not require an internet connection.
A blessing ceremony by local iwi would take centre stage at an official opening event on June 22.
The water services team would show the public around the treatment plant in September, Mr Keenan said.