Far North District Council plans new Paihia-Ōpua-Waitangi water treatment plant

A new water treatment plant is planned for the Paihia-Ōpua- Waitangi water supply, as residents complain of foul-smelling and tasting water. Photo / FNDC

When the Far North District Council announced a treatment upgrade in 2023, it told residents the unpleasant smell and taste of the water would soon be a thing of the past.

At the time the council said the unpleasant odour in the Paihia-Ōpua-Waitangi water supply should soon be a thing of the past once construction of a carbon dioxide dosing unit at the Paihia water treatment plant is completed in February 2024.

Nearly two years later, the problem is yet to be properly resolved.

While the council said there are no ongoing regulatory concerns with the Paihia-Ōpua- Waitangi water supply, it has confirmed plans are underway to move and upgrade the treatment plant as residents hope for lasting solutions to taste and odour issues.

Residents are still complaining about the same thing, and some are buying bottled water for drinking.

Haruru resident Aaron Stott said the water has a foul smell and a bad taste, particularly during summer.

“Around this time of year, the water just gets really smelly and tastes like it’s just come out of the river. So, we pretty much switch to drinking bottled water, because we just can’t drink that.”

“It smells like a swamp…no one’s ever said anything and nothing has been done about it as far as I know. And no one has explained why it’s like that.”

He said many of his friends in the area also opt for bottled water for drinking.

“I mean, I’m paying my water rates, 580 bucks a year and, you know, half the time it’s undrinkable.”

Sam Stewart said the water has been “like that” for years.

“I live in Kawakawa and I drink rainwater, but I have friends in Paihia and I never drink their tap water or at restaurants [there]. It literally tastes like it’s from a riverbed.”

He said the water in Kawakawa has a strong chlorine smell.

“At least you think it’s clean.”

Council head of infrastructure Tanya Proctor said planning is underway to move and upgrade the water treatment plant for the Paihia-Ōpua Waitangi supply.

“The council did undertake a carbon dioxide treatment project at the treatment plant and in a public statement suggested this would reduce odour and taste issues related to the naturally occurring organic compound geosmin. Unfortunately, that was not correct.

“A carbon dioxide treatment unit helps to control pH levels in the raw water. While this does improve this water treatment process and would have improved taste and odour, the impact for consumers would have been very limited.”

She said the only way to remove geosmin-related taste and odour problems is through a similarly named process – “powdered activated carbon dosing”.

“This process will be included in the new treatment plant planned for the Paihia-Ōpua-Waitangi supply. It should be noted that while the earthy or musty odour and taste produced by geosmin is unpleasant, it is a harmless chemical that is produced by blue-green algae present in the river water.”

Last month the council issued a boil water notice for the supply, after E. coli was detected in the water.

The Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai was notified of the notice. Head of operations Steve Taylor confirmed they are aware of the council’s new water treatment plant plans.

“The FNDC has advised that a new water treatment plant is in the design phase with a detailed design expected by February 2026. The building of a new treatment plant will address the taste and odour issues referred to with the inclusion of powdered activated carbon dosing.”

The council will investigate securing land for the plant before moving the project into detailed design.