My question to the mayoral candidates is that during the next term will you commit to reviewing and modifying the current restriction on connection to services in the rural zone to allow access to drinking water for public health reasons where the reticulated supply is already available at the property boundary?
As you are aware, SWDC has had a policy in place for some time that without exception prohibits any connection to town services in the rural zone. I understand that a small council needs to protect itself against substantial infrastructure costs resulting from large developments. However, the Council also has an obligation to ensure a reliable supply of safe water that meet the needs of the community.
Although my property is technically zoned rural, it is actually a series of ten or so houses in a row on quarter acre sections that are clearly part of the town settlement. I find it inequitable as a ratepayer that all the neighbours are connected to reticulated town water supply but I am unable to connect to the pipe at the gate for access for drinking, cooking and personal washing. As a result, we are exposed to the much higher health risks of tank water. I understand that the Council has overruled the recommendations of the Public Health Officer in this regard.
Councils in the Greater Wellington Region and elsewhere in areas with water supply constraints are actively promoting a combination of reticulated drinking water and property owner's tank water for other purposes. The Council's use of meters to monitor excessive use would fit well with such a combination of town and owner supply.
Lionel
Candidate Answers
Candidate
Answer
Hi Lionel,
Thank you for your question, this question requires a little more in-depth information, eg. Zoning in relation to the district plan,
please feel free to ask me in person?
If elected I promise to look into this matter and hopefully find an acceptable outcome,
Thanks for your question,
Bob.
Lionel I can understand your frustration over this matter.
SWDC is required to supply reticulated water to urban zoned properties to the current Drinking Water Standard. We are not required to supply water to rural zoned properties regardless of the preference of the Officer of Public Health. Our previous policy of allowing restricted supply to rural connections (at the owners cost) was fine until we experienced a large growth in lifestyle blocks close to town at the same time as expanding urban development. This put pressure on the availability and we had to give urban connections the priority. The other restriction we have is the quantity of water we may take under our resource consents. Martinborough’s water is supplied from an aquifer fed by the Ruamahanga and the Greytown/Featherston supply is taken from the Waiohine. Both consents have limitations on the actual take allowed and this is unlikely to be increased due to our low population growth and the national focus on the use of river water at present. The previous government had some subsidies available which we were able to access to put ultra violet treatment into Martinborough (we can’t use chlorine because of the manganese) but these didn’t apply to increasing the capacity. The current government has removed all subsidies so the cost of any capital work must fall on the ratepayer.
The policy in question is not due for review this coming year. It will however be revisited as part of the LTCCP process in early 2012. Public input is needed and welcomed during this time.
Regards
Adrienne Staples
