Fit to Drink
Outcome
Key treatment processes: UV reactors
Treatment tanks
"The focus was always on what was right for the project. It was good honest engineering and contracting."
Roger Oakley, MWH
The construction and design of the Southern Water Treatment Plant has earned plaudits from residents and engineers alike. The project won national recognition with the 2006 Ingenium Excellence Award for projects over $200,000. This award was particularly gratifying for the Council water engineers as it came from their peers – Ingenium, the Association of Local Government Engineering New Zealand Inc, represents engineers who look after national public assets.
More importantly perhaps, the water from the new plant is making city residents happy. Their satisfaction with the taste of the water jumped from 43 to 61 percent (satisfied or very satisfied), in the annual residents' opinion survey.
Meanwhile, data is being collected at the plant to complete the process to obtain official A-grade water supply certification for the plant. It is 11 years since the original E grading, but Dunedin residents can now drink straight from their taps, assured that they are getting the best water their rates can buy.