The DCC provides reticulated wastewater services to communities in Waikōuaiti, Karitāne, Seacliff and Warrington. Wastewater from these communities is treated at the DCC’s Waikōuaiti, Seacliff and Warrington wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Collectively, these DCC wastewater systems are known as the northern wastewater schemes.
In 2021, the DCC began a consent study aiming to assess the schemes to identify the best long-term wastewater servicing option(s) for the region. It is part of the 3 Waters Integrated System Plan programme of work and is carried out under the governance of the Integrated System Plan programme board.
Why are we doing this?
The study will inform discharge consent applications for the Warrington WWTP and Waikōuaiti WWTP. The project’s objective is to provide an investment and consenting plan for existing and new networks and treatment and disposal facilities.
The project will enable the DCC to select the most appropriate wastewater management options in the northern Dunedin area including Warrington, Seacliff and Waikōuaiti/Karitāne that:
- address public health and environmental requirements
- recognise mana whenua values and gives effect to Te Mana o te Wai
- account for potential population and climate change forecasts
- achieve affordability obligations to customers
- contribute to net zero carbon objectives
- minimise waste.
How are we doing this?
The project comprises the following staged objectives. Some stages will run concurrently:
- Stage 1 – Baseline: Develop an understanding of the performance, condition and impacts of the wastewater systems and future requirements that will consider growth and development in the area, future treatment standards and consent conditions.
- Stage 2 – Objective setting: Agree on the planning needs and drivers to meet the project objectives and consider the risks identified and others discovered in the baseline stage.
- Stage 3 - Strategic responses and short-listing: Combine and present the findings of stage 1 and 2 in a heat map, identify and develop strategic responses to address the planning objectives (long list of options) and identify a short list of options. Prepare and apply for renewal of the Warrington WWTP land and air discharge consents.
- Stage 4 - Strategic selection and assessment: Identify and develop the preferred strategy (including consenting strategy for the northern wastewater schemes’ Warrington, Waikōuaiti and Seacliff WWTP) and investments needed to address the project objective.
Partner and stakeholder engagement on the project has started with Aukaha and Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki. The study is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.