Three options are being prepared by the city council for consultation before the end of this year.
Akaroa’s treated wastewater is currently discharged into the harbour, but the city council has made a commitment to explore alternatives.
Three waters and waste acting head John Moore said city council staff have investigated a range of methods suggested by the community.
“These included irrigation to land, an ocean outfall, piping the wastewater elsewhere, deep-bore injection and managed aquifer recharge,” he said.
“It’s time now to bring investigations to a close and consult the community on the most effective options available.
“We hope to share these options with everyone in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula after the elections so that the new city council can make a decision early in 2020,” he said.
It was suggested that highly-treated wastewater could be fed into Akaroa’s aquifers, or groundwater, as an alternative to the harbour discharge.
However, Mr Moore said investigations have been discontinued because managed aquifer recharge with treated wastewater would pose a risk to the Akaroa’s drinking water supply.
“If treated wastewater is injected into Akaroa’s groundwater, there’s a risk it could enter the bores used to supply drinking water,” Mr Moore said.
“In light of recent central government moves to strengthen drinking water standards, it is not a risk we are willing to take – protecting the community’s drinking water is of paramount importance.”
