Water company defends changes

Manukau Water says its new wastewater charge is a good deal for households and companies Manukau Water is continuing to invest millions of dollars to both maintain its existing water and wastewater services and to enhance capacity on its network. The investment is being made despite the company expecting its overall revenue to show little change this year. Investments include new water storage tanks and water mains, as well as pump station upgrades. The company is also upgrading its Beachlands/Maraetei waste water treatment plant and is currently seeking resource consent approval for a new wastewater treatment facility at Kawakawa Bay. The Kawakawa Bay facility will deal with a public health risk which currently sees the bay closed to swimming and shellfish gathering. While Manukau Water is now a council-controlled organisation rather than a business unit of council, its priority continues to be the provision of quality water and wastewater services to the people of Manukau, says Raveen Jaduram, Manukau Water's chief executive. ``Any money we earn is put back into developing water and wastewater services for the people of Manukau. We do not operate for the purpose of making a profit,'' Mr Jaduram says. ``In the past year, the residential wastewater service charge - previously part of a council rates bill but now on your bill from Manukau Water - has increased by less than 2 cents a day. That's about $7 a year. ``The charge came off the rates bill at the same time as the method of calculating rates changed, so this has made it difficult for some people to see the change.'' The residential wastewater charge is equivalent to 88 cents a day for Manukau Water to take away and clean water from sinks, showers, bathtubs, toilets, washing machines and dishwashers. For most commercial users the wastewater fee is $950 a year or $2.60 a day. That fee applies to commercial users who use less than 40 cubic meters a year. ``On a per litre basis, the fee for removing and treating wastewater (such as sewage) is higher than the fee for treating and providing water,'' Mr Jaduram says. ``It is much more expensive to provide the pipe and pumping infrastructure as well as facilities like sewage treatment plants for wastewater than it is to provide pipelines and treatment for water.'' Manukau Water is responsible for the management of the public water distribution and wastewater collection systems for Manukau. It serves 334,000 people in an area covering 552 square kilometres from Mangere, Pakuranga and Howick to Manurewa in the south.