The historic town of Clyde is among the largest in the country to have no community sewerage system. Jono Edwards investigates the issue.
Clyde resident of 65 years, Hazel Grant (88), is used to life with a septic tank.
"I’ve never had a problem with mine, but the town will definitely need a proper system as it keeps growing.
"I’d love to see it expand. There’s land which would be perfect for a retirement home. My husband and I always thought we’d eventually see Clyde and Alexandra meet up."
Residents were told when the town was smaller it would never need a sewerage system because water was filtered through underlying fine pea gravel, she said.
However, there have been concerns about groundwater quality.
Two years ago, former Central Otago District Council infrastructure services manager Jon Kingsford said at a meeting degradation in groundwater quality in and near Clyde was concerning as nitrate levels increased over a short period of time.
"We don’t know if that’s a blip, a trend, or something else," he said.
As for the town’s expansion, from a survey of Clyde residents the council released in September, to which 251 responded, 54% said they did not want the town to expand, compared with 39% who did. For those who want expansion, developer Allan Dippie said the lack of a sewerage system was constraining development.
He was involved with the development of the 88-lot Sunderland Estate subdivision in the mid 2000s.
"We asked the town and the council whether we should lay some reticulation under it so it would make it much easier in the future if a system is put in. If you do it at that stage, it’s really not that onerous.
"It was seen as putting the cart before the horse."
A few years ago, busy Olivers restaurant, bar and lodge was required to install its own mini sewerage system. Wastewater is pumped through a UV filter and discharged underground from its front lawn.
It is understood at times this summer the system has emitted an unpleasant smell which was also noticeable at nearby businesses.Co-owner David Ritchie said the sewerage scheme released a smell, but his understanding from experts was all systems did.
"We are continually working on it and refining it."
He felt strongly the town needed a community system if it was to continue developing.
"Not only developing with new buildings and new houses, but with also more and more tourists coming through. I’m told we’re one of the larger towns that’s still on tanks."
Another similar device services commercial developments behind Olivers, which include shops, restaurants and the cinema, and the Dunstan Hotel alsohas its own.
Dunstan House accommodation owner John Davidson said the town was growing and "needed to keep up".
The 12-bedroom hotel had to have its septic tank emptied every one or two years, at a cost of about $400, he said.
"But that’s not really the problem. When we came here it was very much a country town; now as it grows and tourism grows it will continue to put pressure on the infrastructure."
Bank Cafe manager Lorna Fairbairn said the town "definitely" needed its own sewerage system.
Dunstan Hospital general manager Karyn Penno said the hospital had its own treatment facility which was "pretty full on", so it would not be directly affected by a new Clyde sewerage system.
While a hyper-local newspaper said the hospital was having problems with its sewerage system, she had "no idea where that came from".
"We’ve never had any problems. It’s going great."
Statistics New Zealand says Clyde’s 2013 population was 1455. Kerikeri, population 6500, is the largest to not have a community scheme, but is in the process of getting one.
Clyde joins a handful of other similarly-sized towns such as Pirongia (1400 people), Ngahinapouri (2106), and Darfield (1935), in not having its own scheme.A $36 million sewerage scheme for Clyde is in the council’s budget, between 2023 and 2027.
In the past, council-owned land in Muttontown next to the town was considered for the project.
The council has commissioned initial investigation work regarding the future requirements for a wastewater system for Clyde. The results
will be released later in the year.
It will identify if the work is actually required, if the timing is appropriate, and if the estimates are correct.
Council infrastructure services manager Julie Muir said it would involve reviewing test data, discussions with businesses in the historic precinct and with the Otago Regional Council, and analysis of growth projections and their implications.
"It will also look at whether staging is an option, and an initial high level review of treatment options and cost estimates.
"The need for a sewerage system is not necessarily driven by its size. The need is often driven by underlying geology and hydrology."
