The new $4.6 million water treatment plant that will serve the township of Mount Somers well into the future was officially opened by Mayor Neil Brown last week.

The mayor was joined by councillors, representatives of the Mount Somers Citizens’ Association, contractors and consultants involved in the build, Arowhenua, representatives from Taumata Arowai and council staff, when he unveiled a plaque at the front the new plant to mark the occasion.

“The new plant has been operational for a few weeks and is now fully commissioned, so it was great to celebrate the end of the project,” Mayor Brown said.

“Now, with the new membrane filter equipment in use at the plant, there should be no more boil water notices for Mount Somers after big storm events.”

Water passes through an ultra-fine filter and is UV disinfected before being distributed to the Mount Somers drinking water network.

Mayor Brown said there would be a further improvement to the water supply, with Council looking at other intake sources to boost the supply when needed.

“The completion of this project is another significant achievement in the district in our efforts to improve drinking water quality to meet current and future demand.”

The new plant has also doubled the volume of water in the plant’s reservoir, with eight tanks able to hold 240 cubic metres.

Construction of the plant began last year and has involved engineers Beca, Masons Engineering, McIntosh Construction and ACL.

At the official opening, the site was blessed by upoko of Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua Tewera King, who congratulated the team for bringing the house of water to life, for the people of Mount Somers.

The plant was also open for the community to have a look.

Council Group Manager of Infrastructure Neil McCann said construction had gone to plan and the treatment plant would be operated by Council contractors ACL.

“It’s essentially a smaller version of the membrane treatment plant we built at Methven. Water volumes and plant functions are continuously monitored remotely, with staff onsite regularly to make sure everything runs smoothly.”

About 150 properties are connected to the Mount Somers drinking water supply which now meets criteria set by national drinking water standards