A $3.395 million contract for the supply of membrane equipment for Methven and Mt Somers’ new water treatment plants has been awarded to Masons Engineers (NZ) Ltd.

The new membrane filtration systems are part of a $13m upgrade to the Methven and Mt Somers drinking water supplies and Ashburton District Council Infrastructures Services Group Manager Neil McCann said the upgrades should end the need to issue boil water notices on these supplies after heavy rain events.

“The membrane equipment provides a barrier that removes turbidity, among other things, and that means people on the Methven, Methven-Springfield and Mt Somers schemes will have continuous safe drinking water provided to them.”

The membrane water plants use ultrafiltration membrane technology and consultants Beca are now working with Masons to finalise the design and building layout, with construction expected to go out for tender early September 2022.

The new treatment plants should be operating by winter 2023.

Contractors have also begun assembling one of two new steel reservoirs at the Methven water treatment facility and have been undertaking new underground pipe connections.  The reservoirs are on track for commissioning in August 2022.