Community Plan 2009-2019

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Section 12: Summary of Assessment of Sanitary and Water Services

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This section provides an assessment of water services and other sanitary services within New Plymouth District.

The complete assessment was first published in June 2005, with this update completed in 2009 to tie in with the update of relevant asset management plans.

The following section outlines the current status in the district.

Water supply

This section details the following in relation to the water supply:

Extent of water supply in New Plymouth District.
How this is obtained.
Who provides the service.
The quality of the water.

There are 22 public water supplies in New Plymouth District which are listed with the Ministry of Health. Four of the listed supplies come from water treatment plants owned and operated by New Plymouth District Council, as itemised in the table opposite.

Nine of the listed supplies service rural schools which range in population estimates from 12 to 125. All of these supplies are currently ungraded, which means that assessments of compliance with the Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand are not made.

In addition there are nine privately owned 'public supplies' which range in population estimates from 20 to 50. All of these supplies are also currently ungraded.

There are well established systems for distribution of tankered water in the New Plymouth District. The Ministry of Health has recently (July 2008) published guidelines for the quality of tankered water.

There are four marae with private water supplies which are currently not registered with the Ministry of Health. Two of these are in areas included in the Water Supply Area Expansion Programme (2008-2014). Taranaki District Health Board is working with the maraes to ensure that they are appropriately registered in the future.

Comment on quality and adequacy of water supply and risks in areas where supply is not adequate

New Plymouth District Council is committed to meeting the requirements of the Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand (DWSNZ 2005). Other supplies listed in the district are currently ungraded. The Health (Drinking-Water) Amendment Act 2007 aims to protect public health by improving the quality of drinking water provided to communities. Since 1 July 2008 all drinking water suppliers are required to apply to the ministry for registration on the drinking water register. Other duties relating to compliance with DWSNZ 2005 come into force progressively over the next few years.

Water supply	Current population estimate	Grade (MoH 2007)*	Comments
Inglewood	3,500	Aa
New Plymouth	48,800	Aa
Oakura	1,300	Aa1
Okato	600	Ungraded	The ultraviolet (UV) treatment technology at Okato Water Treatment Plant (WTP) requires a full 12 month proving period before any grading can be given. Grading for Okato WTP will appear in the 2008 revision of the Ministry of Health Register of Drinking-Water Supplies, to be published in 2009.

* A Ministry of Health system which grades the quality of water.

Eighty-nine per cent of the rateable dwellings in New Plymouth District have connections to a New Plymouth District Council water supply. New Plymouth District experiences relatively high rainfall, so water restrictions are not common. There are also well established systems for distribution of tankered water in the district, so there is little risk of not having access to water.

Statement of current and estimated future demands - quality and adequacy of water supply

New Plymouth District Council's Water and Wastewater Asset Management Plan (WWAMP) provides a means to ensure that the district's water treatment, storage and supply infrastructure will be able to meet current and future demand. The WWAMP is reviewed every three years, which includes an assessment of improvements necessary to meet foreseeable demands for capacity and quality arising from growth. The Council committed in 2004 to a ten year programme (2204-2014) of progressive extension of treated water supplies into rural areas, however the Council has decided to curtail the rural water extensions with effect 2010.

The first Water Asset Management Plan (WAMP) was published in the 1990s as Version 1.0. The current (combined) Water and Wastewater Asset Management Plan (WWAMP) was published in 2006. The next WWAMP revision is due for release in April 2009. An assessment of the suitability of different options for the district and for each community has been made.Return to top

Sewerage treatment

This section details the following in relation to the sewerage treatment:

Extent of sewerage treatment in New Plymouth District.
How this is obtained.
Who provides the service.
The quality of the water.

New Plymouth District Council has two separate sewerage systems - the New Plymouth/Bell Block/Inglewood system and the Waitara system. The extent of these systems is defined in the WWAMP.

Eighty-two per cent of the rateable dwellings in New Plymouth District have connections to a New Plymouth District Council sewerage system. Taranaki's free draining soils allow individual septic tanks to provide an environmentally sound disposal where no sewerage system is provided. In areas of high density development or which are environmentally sensitive, routine inspections of individual septic tanks are conducted by the Council.

Assessment of quantity and quality of wastewater treatment/discharge and risks in areas where systems are not adequate

New Plymouth District Council owns and operates a wastewater treatment plant for each of the two separate sewerage systems. Taranaki Regional Council annual monitoring reports show no measurable impact on the receiving environment, i.e. the sea from the discharges from the New Plymouth and Waitara Wastewater Treatment Plants.

There has been no indication from Taranaki Regional Council that there are any environmental problems in the areas where septic tanks are used for private or community sewage treatment and discharge. However, New Plymouth District Council carried out investigations which revealed some environmental problems with septic tanks in the Oakura area and has subsequently committed to extend the New Plymouth reticulation to install a reticulated sewerage system in Oakura. This system is due for commissioning in September 2009.

A Proposed National Environmental Standard for On-site Wastewater Systems was issued during 2008 for submissions and suggested outcomes included the authorisation of regional councils to implement schemes which require property owners of on-site systems to hold a warrant of fitness. In 2006, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Taranaki Regional Council and the three Taranaki local authorities (New Plymouth District Council. Stratford District Council and South Taranaki District Council) to manage adverse effects that may arise from on-site domestic wastewater systems. It was recommended at that stage that the MoU should replace any existing septic tank certification programmes of the time.

Statement of current and estimated future demands - quality and adequacy of systems

The WWAMP provides a means to ensure that the district's sewage treatment and infrastructure will be able to meet current and future demand. The asset management plan is reviewed every three years, which includes an assessment of improvements necessary to meet foreseeable demand for capacity and quality arising from growth.

A pipeline is planned to transfer sewage from the Waitara system directly into the New Plymouth reticulation. This means that the Waitara Wastewater Treatment Plant and outfall will be bypassed and the sewage will be treated at the New Plymouth Wastewater Treatment Plant. The pipeline is proposed to be installed and commissioned during 2015-2017.

Some coastal areas, which are not on reticulated sewerage systems, are experiencing high rates of housing development. Concern for the future environmental effects of this growth had led to the Council previously proposing sewerage reticulation for the Onaero and Urenui areas. This project has now been deferred to allow time to investigate alternative schemes.Return to top

Stormwater disposal

This section details the following in relation to stormwater:

Extent of stormwater disposal in New Plymouth District.
How this is obtained.
Who provides the service.
The quality of the water.

There is no legislative obligation for a local authority to provide stormwater drainage systems. The need for stormwater control is largely a result of changing land use pattern.

New Plymouth District Council manages stormwater drainage and flood protection systems in New Plymouth/Bell Block, Waitara, Inglewood, Urenui, Onaero, Lepperton, Egmont Village, Oakura and Okato. The extent of these systems is defined in the Stormwater Asset Management Plan (SWAMP). These systems have historically developed as a result of community expectations and therefore in an ad-hoc manner.

There are many private drainage systems throughout the district. Taranaki Regional Council, via the Regional Fresh Water Plan, has developed a set of regional rules to provide an appropriate level of control over land drainage issues in the region.

Statement of current and estimated future demands - quality and adequacy of stormwater systems

The SWAMP provides a means to ensure that the district's stormwater and flood protection infrastructure will be able to meet current and future demand. This plan is currently under review, which includes an assessment of improvements necessary to meet foreseeable demands for capacity and quality arising from growth. The next SWAMP revision will be published in 2009.

Since the introduction of the SWAMP, the district's stormwater systems have been reviewed on a catchment by catchment basis. Gradual upgrades and improvements to the council's stormwater and flood protection systems are prioritised.

In July 2008 the Dam Safety Scheme Regulations were established, with a 24-month transitional period before the scheme comes into force. The purpose is to install a formal system of dam monitoring, inspection and maintenance to ensure that all large dams are well built, regularly monitored, and that the risk to people and property is minimised.

District Waste Management Plan

The Ministry for the Environment and Local Government New Zealand jointly released the New Zealand Waste Strategy (NZWS) in March 2002. The NZWS emphasises the minimisation and better management of waste and encourages regional waste management planning to achieve efficiencies in implementing policies.

The NZWS encourages local government to set local targets in line with national targets. The Regional Waste Strategy (RWS) has set draft targets for Taranaki, making the national targets more appropriate for Taranaki and providing specific waste minimisation and management goals for local authorities, industries and the community.

In accordance with the Waste Minimisation Act 2008, New Plymouth District Council is required to produce a Waste Management and Minimisation Plan. New Plymouth District Council last updated and published its Solid Waste Management Plan in 2005. The next revision of this plan is due by 2012 and will be updated to comply with the statutory requirements of the Waste Minimisation Act (2008). This will be carried out jointly with the other territorial local authorities in the Taranaki region and facilitated by Taranaki Regional Council.

Waste Minimisation Act (2008)

The Waste Minimisation Act (2008) encourages a reduction in the amount of waste generated and disposed of in New Zealand and aims to lessen the environmental harm of waste. The Waste Minimisation Act (2008) will impose a $10.00 plus GST per tonne levy on all solid waste disposed to landfills from 1 July 2009.Return to top

Public toilets

The Council has:

Fifty-one public toilet blocks comprising:
Thirty-two male and female toilets.
Seventeen unisex toilets.
Two women's toilets.

The above includes three women's rest rooms within existing toilet blocks.

Of these:

Forty-one are located on parks and reserves (22 are on coastal reserves and five at sports grounds).
Ten are located in central business district (CBD) areas.
Twenty eight (55 per cent) are accessible toilets.
Fifty have hand basins.
Six have showers.

Statement of current and estimated future demand - quality and adequacy of public toilets

The planned increase in toilet provision is a response to a projected population growth of seven per cent over the next 20 years and to recent National Research Bureau surveys (2006 to 2008) for New Plymouth District, which indicate that there is community dissatisfaction with toilet facilities. The council response is to build 10 new toilets, replace six and upgrade three (see table below).

The Council continues to manage increased demand for public toilets by:

Responding to peak demands by managing a summer/winter cleaning programme, that allows for seasonal variation in demand.
Requiring organisers of events on public land to provide sufficient temporary toilets or additional cleaning and maintenance of existing public toilets.

The table below sets out the proposed implementation of the augmentation and renewal of public toilets as initiated through the 'Public Toilet Review Implementation Report and Proposed Additional Work' 2008 and modified through submissions received for the Draft Community Plan. The projects have been prioritised and will be completed as funding becomes available. The programme is anticipated to meet population demand and as a means to increase community satisfaction with toilet facilities.

Recommended work for 2009-2019 Community Plan.

Year	Location	New Toilet	Replacement Toilet	Upgrade	Augmentation(A)* Renewal (R)**
2009/10	Bowl of Brooklands (design and options for analysis of toilets)		×		R
2009/10	Audrey Gale			×	R
2009/10	Oakura Beach (opposite surf club)			×	R
2009/10	Lee Breakwater (Port Taranaki asset)	×			A
2010/11	Bowl of Brooklands (replace western toilet block)		×		R
2010/11	Westown Shopping Centre	×			A
2011/12	Ngamotu Beach (Port Taranaki asset)		×		R
2011/12	Waitara Cemetery	×			A
2012/13	Bowl of Brooklands (replace eastern toilet building)		×		R
2012/13	Bell Block shopping centre	×			A
2013/14	Hickford Park			×	R
2013/14	Fitzroy Beach (near surf club)		×		R
2013/14	Pukearuhe Road (earthworks and retaining wall required)	×			A
2014/15	Gover Street		×		R
2014/15	Waiwhakaiho Walkway (Meeting of the Waters)	×			A
2015/16	Oakura Shopping Centre	×			A
2016/17	Merrilands Shopping Centre	×			A
2017/18	Onaero Beach	×			A
2018/19	Rapanui	×			A

* Augmentation: New projects
** Renewal: Replacement of existing facilities.

Since 2002 the Council has installed nine modular toilets and intends to continue with this type of toilet unless particular site conditions favour another option. These toilets have replaced the traditional public toilets. They provide improved user safety and maintenance features and are cost effective to provide and more vandal resistant. However, other options may be more appropriate at some of the more remote beach sites where new and replacement toilets are planned. Return to top

Cemeteries

New Plymouth District Council provides nine operational cemeteries across the district and a single public crematorium for the Taranaki region. An additional privately owned crematorium is anticipated to be in service in 2009. A further cemetery is in transition to New Plymouth District Council from the rural cemetery board at Okato.

New Plymouth District Council cemeteries are provided in the following locations:

Oakura.
Waireka.
Te Henui (New Plymouth - includes servicemen's plots).
Awanui (New Plymouth - includes servicemen's plots).
Waitara (includes servicemen's plots).
Urenui.
Inglewood.
Tarata.
Purangi.

In 2008, most public cemeteries were assessed to have a minimum of 40 years capacity given the expected mortality rates. The exceptions are Awanui (six years), Urenui (eight years), Inglewood (13 years) and Te Henui which has capacity only for reserved plots and internments into existing graves.

Statement of current and estimated future demand - quality and adequacy of cemeteries and crematorium.

The following assumptions are made in assessing the demand for cemeteries and crematorium:

Birth rates have increased since 2002 but are anticipated to revert to the steady decline that existed prior to 2002. There has been a tendency towards smaller families, i.e. fewer children.
Infant mortality rates have reduced considerably (which mitigates to an extent the decline in actual birth rates).
Life expectancy is increasing, resulting in a growth in the number of elderly people (aged 65 and over, 15 per cent of the district's population).
Modest population growth.
A steady increase in the death rate for the next 20 years, projected to increase by 20 per cent from 2008 to 2028.
Cremation services are the preferred option for 73 per cent of deaths; this is expected to continue.

Over the next 20 years, the average distribution of services on an annual basis is projected at:

Five hundred and eighty cremations.
One hundred and ninety casket burials.
Two hundred burials of ashes.

The existing cemeteries and the current crematorium are therefore expected to be able to meet district demand for the next 10 years with the exception of Awanui. A new district-wide cemetery will be operational two years before Awanui reaches capacity (estimated 2014). Funding for this is included in the Draft Community Plan. In addition, funding for increasing the capacity of Urenui Cemetery within the existing site footprint is included in the Draft Community Plan.

In terms of meeting the long-term demands for cemeteries and crematoriums, the role of the Council will be to continue to fulfil its statutory and policy obligations. Two main courses of action for meeting future demand have been determined:

The full utilisation of existing cemetery sites, and
The development of a new district-wide cemetery by 2012.

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