Ruapehu District Council Town Water Supply

The township of Ōwhango in New Zealand historically relied on a local stream for its water supply. However, accessing this stream for regular intake maintenance and monitoring proved challenging. Seeking a more reliable solution, the Ruapehu District Council (RDC) investigated the potential of using groundwater. Groundwater could represent a water source with easier access for regular sampling and site checks, shorter conveyance and related maintenance and reduced risk of disruption from volcanic activity.

In a proactive step to secure a reliable community water supply, RDC partnered with WGA’s water scientists to carry out a review of groundwater supply options, including risks to the existing water supply and water quality effects. The team reviewed the local geology, hydrogeology, well/bore data and existing groundwater allocations to provide an assessment of the potential and feasibility of using groundwater to support a potable water supply for Ōwhango.

Our team assessed the feasibility of using groundwater and outlined a clear path forward. This included exploratory drilling to accurately evaluate groundwater resources. WGA designed a water supply bore and provided detailed specifications to RDC. This information enabled RDC to obtain competitive quotes from multiple suppliers, with the objective of ensuring cost-effective project outcomes.