Ensuring safe drinking water for Tasman
It’s very easy to take water supplies for granted – just turn on the tap and there’s plenty of fresh water to drink, wash your clothes, and have a shower – but do you know where your water comes from and how it gets to your place?
We have responsibility for supplying drinking water to residents and businesses connected to our drinking-water supply schemes. We also have regional authority obligations to protect the quality of sources of drinking water in Tasman District.
Across Tasman District we have different water supply schemes.
We own and operate 15 water schemes which include 15 water treatment plants, 100 reservoirs, 30 bores, 28 pump stations, 810km of pipes and approximately 14,000 metered connections.
As of June 2024, our Council water supply serviced 15,397 properties, with an expectation that this will increase by 13% over the next 10 years.
Now, about 55% of the Tasman District population is serviced by one of our Council water supplies.
But in Motueka for example, only about a third of properties are currently connected to our Council water supply with many relying on private bores for household water – those bores can lead to questionable water quality.
Some rural schemes are quite unique in the way they serve their communities.
Learn more about water quality in your area and where your water comes from by clicking on the maps below.
What does your water supply look like? (click on the map)
Brightwater Water Supply covers the urban Brightwater area, and extends along Main Road Hope to the southern side of Bateup Road in Richmond.
Water is taken from three bores close to the Wairoa River in Brightwater. The water is chlorinated for disinfection purposes.
Collingwood Water Supply takes water from a bore near the Aorere River. The water is aerated and passes through a lime filter for pH control. The water is chlorinated for disinfection purposes.
Eighty-Eight Valley Rural Water supply takes water from a creek close to the southern end of Eighty-Eight Valley Road.
Water is supplied to the rural 88 Valley Road area and as far north as Mount Heslington Road.
The water has coarse filtration and then is chlorinated.
Kaiteriteri water supply takes water from a deep bore in Riwaka.
Water is supplied to Main Road Riwaka, most of Riwaka-Kaiteriteri Road and as far north as Kaiteriteri-Sandy Bay Road.
Permanent chlorination was introduced in May 2021.
The Pōhara water supply takes water from a creek in Pōhara Valley. The water is filtered and chlorinated. Only the Pōhara Valley area is supplied, with an extension to the Pōhara Camp.
Tapawera Water Supply takes water from two bores close to the Motueka River.
The water has lime added for pH control and is chlorinated and UV treated for disinfection purposes.
Upper Tākaka Water Supply takes water from a creek on Tākaka Hill.
The water undergoes sedimentation, filtration, and UV disinfection. Permanent chlorination of the supply was agreed by Council in May 2021 and will be introduced in due course.
Māpua Urban and Ruby Bay rural cover an area from Old Coach Road to Permin Road, Tasman. Water is from bores, chlorinated for disinfection.
Motueka water supply from deep bores covers only a third of the town, with many properties having their own private bore water supplies.
Murchison water supply takes it water from two bores close to the Matakitaki River.
The water is aerated for pH control then chlorinated and UV treated
Redwood Valley Rural Water Supply takes water from three shallow local bores.
The water is aerated for pH control then chlorinated for disinfection.
Richmond water supply covers from Wakatu Industrial Estate to Haycock Road rural extension and includes Richmond and Waimea Industrial zones.
Wakefield water supply covers urban Wakefield, Pigeon Valley and Spring Grove, from a shallow well and infiltration gallery close to Wai-iti River.
