Esk and Whirinaki Water Supply Update

While it is looking increasingly likely that Whirinaki’s water supply can go back to its usual bore source in the very near future, we are continuing with our contingency plan of linking into an alternative supply.

On Sunday, a resident notified Hastings District Council that the water had a salty taste.

Council tested the water and confirmed that salt levels were higher than normal. Council turned off the bore and has relied on the reservoir with fresh water to supply the affected residents while it has worked to mitigate the problem.

The most recent test runs of the bores showed the situation was easing, said acting planning and regulatory manager Brett Chapman.

Since yesterday (Tuesday) staff had been able to run the smaller of the two bores through both low and high tides at half rate without recording elevated salt levels.

That bore would now be ramped up to full rate and the water tested to see if it continued to record acceptable salt limits.

If that is successful, trials on the larger pump will be started.

While the pump trials are promising, council staff are concerned the fresh water reservoir may run out before the bores can be reinstated and residents are being asked to continue to conserve water.

Staff are also continuing with a connection to a Napier water supply which runs very close to the Whirinaki reservoir.

Unusually large sea swells surging up the Esk River caused the problem with the Whirinaki water supply. 

4 October 2017

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