Allanton's new sewerage scheme looks set to drop in price by almost $2000 a household, with a new system that does not require septic tanks.
Residents are to be told about the new plan at a meeting at the Allanton community hall tonight, and the Dunedin City Council is hoping they see the idea as good news.
The area's sewerage system became a cause for concern after a 2006 assessment by the council identified more than 20 failed septic tanks in the area.
Allanton faced a health hazard from runoff causing contamination on properties, in water courses, roadside ditches and the Taieri River, and a huge bill to fix the problem.
Last year, the council decided to partly fund a reticulated waste water scheme that would remove liquid waste, although solid waste would have to be removed by a tanker.
The cost for each household was estimated at $5940 to more than $12,000, depending on whether septic tanks had to be replaced.
But asset planning manager Laura McElhone said after the council went to the market for tenders, a company had come back with an alternative idea, a pressure system that removed the need for septic tanks.
Instead, it involved smaller tanks with a pump that ground up the waste and sent it through pipes to a treatment station.
The council estimated the cost of the system would be "just shy" of $1 million less than the original plan.
The new scheme would cost $4020 for existing residents.
Ms McElhone said the council believed the system, as well as being cheaper, was better, as it was completely sealed, and less prone to leaks.
