A step closer to clean water on the Chathams

I have just returned to Nelson after two weeks working in the Chatham Islands where I was managing the construction of a new water treatment facility for the remote town of Kaingaroa.

The small fishing town of Kaingaroa, pumps its drinking water from a shallow lake, 3km inland from the township. The old filtration and treatment system is no longer effective – meaning the people of Kaingaroa need to boil all their water.

Kaingaroa Beach

Consulting engineers MWH and the Chatham Island Council, with funding from the Ministry of Health, engaged Downer to upgrade the town’s drinking water supply.

Before work on this project started one of the locals - Danny Whaitiri, would need to paddle his kayak out to an Island on Lake Rangitai in order to start an old diesel pump that would drive lake water up to some wooden holding tanks at Kaingaroa.

 Downer has installed and commissioned a new hydraulic screw pump located on the shore of Lake Rangitai (rather than out on the island) thereby eliminating the need for a bi-weekly kayak trip.

On this trip, myself and John Smith from Kaikoura decommission the old storage and treatment systems.  We installed five new 33000l holding tanks, and installed a filtration and UV treatment system which will supply the existing retulation in Kaingaroa with potable drinking water.

Site during construction, with installed reservoirs and treatment plant shed

Myself and John Smith

I was also lucky enough to get out on one of the locals fishing boats to see what all the fuss was about. Within 10 seconds of dropping a line down we were catching Hapuka and Cod in 7-8m of crystal clear water! What a blast.

Fresh Hapuka for dinner