A new utilities building is to be constructed at Argyle Park to house UV water treatment equipment.

Group Manager Infrastructure and Open Spaces Neil McCann said the new building would be on the eastern side of the existing cluster of buildings, which house public toilets, existing water treatment equipment and storage for sports clubs.

“Council is spending about $10 million upgrading all its water plants to meet national drinking water requirements and UV disinfection steps are needed to comply with standards and quality assurance rules. We are constructing a small building beside the existing facility at Argyle Park to house the UV equipment there.”

Staff scoping the site recently marked four trees that were in the vicinity of the new building, which will be about the same height as the existing buildings.

Mr McCann said just one of the trees would need to be removed, and the others would have branches trimmed to make way for the new building.

The Argyle Park water treatment plant is one of four treatment plants that service Ashburton town.

Other water treatment plants are at the Ashburton Domain, Bridge Street and Tinwald and these will also be upgraded in the next 12 months to have UV equipment installed.

“Retrofitting large equipment into existing buildings is not possible at all these sites and the buildings are in sensitive locations, but we are trying to reduce the impact on the surrounding environment and blend in as much as possible,” Mr McCann said.