Central Hawke’s Bay District Council

Media Release

2 October 2014

CHB Urban Water Supply From Ruataniwha Scheme

Central Hawke’s Bay District Council today decided that it would source its urban water supply from the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme once it is in operation.

The resolution from Central Hawke’s Bay District Council today is “Council agree to take water from the RWSS for Municipal Supply subject to favourable contract terms.”

Currently the District Council takes water directly from the Tukituki River to supply households and commercial enterprises in Waipukurau, Waipawa, Takapau and Otane.

There would be a number of advantages in taking water from the storage scheme. It offers the District Council a more resilient and reliable water supply of significantly better quality for residents. By taking the domestic water from the scheme, it would also remove the impact of taking river water during low flow periods and improve the river flow and therefore the river environment.

The first tranche would be at the current level of 2 million cubic metres of water. There would be a second tranche of the same amount to supply the expected growth in the district arising from the development of the water storage scheme.

“This decision by Central Hawke’s Bay District Council is a demonstration of their confidence in the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme, and their confidence too in the future growth potential of the district,” says HBRIC Ltd CEO, Andrew Newman.

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