Council seeks to economically provide a system that collects, treats and disposes of sewerage to an acceptable standard according to the following principles:

• Ensure that public health is protected
• Ensure that there are minimal effects on the environment and the community's inhabitants
• Provide minimal interruptions to service for maintenance and extensions

New Connections

New connections to the sewerage reticulation must be installed by a contractor approved by the Council.

To apply for a new water connection, please complete an application form, and return to the Council. Please contact Karen Bothwell  Water Operations Manager, on 06-857-8060 for further information.

Building Over Sewers Policy

Council does not endorse building over public sewers. Where there is no practical alternative, Council will consider it with the following conditions:

• Each case will be approved individually
• An easement will be registered on the property title to cover the route of the sewer
• Additional costs in respect of maintenance and renewal of the sewer due to the building being erected over it are to be met by the property owner
• The sewer must be constructed of PVC pipe laid in a straight line (including grade)
• Manholes are to be placed on each side of and clear of the building, with no connections permitted between these two manholes
• The foundations of the building must be designed and constructed so that no load is placed on the sewer

Future Directions in Wastewater Treatment and Disposal

The discharge consents for five of the Council's six oxidation ponds lapsed on 30 September 2003. The consents affect the Otane, Waipawa, Waipukurau, Porangahau and Porangahau Beach (Te Paerahi) ponds.

Since the consents were issued a new Regional Resource Management Plan has been adopted by the Hawke's Bay Regional Council and this Plan has altered the guidelines that the District Council must meet in any of its discharge consents.

The District Council has undertaken a full investigation into all of the options available to it to mitigate the effects of the discharges from the ponds on their receiving environment. The recommended option in the Issues and Options report (available from the Council) would enable the Council to fully meet the guidelines and standards established for discharges in the Proposed Regional Resource Management Plan, however, this comes at a significant financial cost to the community.

Following the release of the Issues and Options report, the Council consulted widely. A total of 158 submissions were received. The largest number of submitters responded on the method of funding any upgrades. An overwhelming majority of the submitters (74%) were of the opinion that any funding of the upgrades had to be on a user-pays basis. Affordability was also an issue raised in the submissions.

Please contact Brett Way on 06-857-8060 for more information.