Major upgrades of the two Blenheim water treatment plants and Essons Valley (Picton) have been completed to meet the standards. The Middle Renwick Road WTP has been approved by the Drinking Water Assessor. Confirmation is awaited for the Central WTP and Essons Valley. Bacteriological testing of the Riverlands supply has produced consistently good quality results. Previous age dating of the groundwater has shown the water to be old with no young fraction but this work needs to be repeated and extended in order to qualify as a ‘secure supply’. If secure groundwater status is achieved, it will mean priority one (microbiological and protozoa) compliance will be achieved without treatment. There are relatively high levels of naturally occurring manganese in the groundwater which can cause discolouration to the supply.This is an aesthetic rather than health issue. Supply Zone Registered DWSNZ Category DWSNZ Revised Target Population (Popn) Compliance Date Date Blenheim 24,028 Large (>10,000) 1 July 2012 Complies 2011* Picton 4,185 Minor (501-5,000) 1 July 2014 2015 Havelock 618 Minor (501-5,000) 1 July 2014 Delayed Renwick 1,884 Minor (501-5,000) 1 July 2014 Delayed Riverlands 740 Minor (501-5,000) 1 July 2014 Seddon/Awatere 1,000 Minor (501-5,000) 1 July 2014 Delayed Dashwood 333 Small (101-500) Delayed Wairau Valley 160 Small (101-500) 1 July 2015 Delayed * * Compliance with approved Water Safety Plan which implies compliance with the DWSNZ. ** Awaiting Drinking Water Assessor approval The ability of smaller communities such as Awatere, Renwick, Havelock and Wairau Valley to afford the necessary capital investment and on-going running costs of the water treatment plants is a contentious issue. The capital costs for the treatment plants are high and there are relatively few ratepayers to meet the costs. It has been accepted by Council that treatment of water supplies to these communities is deferred on affordability grounds until after the current compliance date. The Health (Amendment) Act includes affordability as a criterion for assessing whether Council has taken all practicable steps to comply with standards. The Council continues to seek community agreement to meet the requirements. There has been considerable consultation and public meeting with the Awatere community. There is some consensus now emerging across the community and at a meeting in November 2014 it was agreed that Council apply for a Ministry of Health subsidy for the installation of a membrane treatment plant for the Seddon Township. Further consultation on the best option and the actual cost of the improvements will take place with the affected communities in the coming years. 2.7.2 Water Losses The new performance measures require suppliers to measure and report water losses as an indication of the maintenance of the reticulation system. The target values chosen by the council Page 28