by Anne-Marie Emerson
The discovery of a soft water supply could save Wanganui households $220 per year, says the city's mayor.
Michael Laws, engineers and council staff gathered at a Westmere property yesterday to toast the two new bores - nicknamed Abelard and Heloise - which will finally rid city homes of limescale build-up and damaged water heating elements.
Mr Laws said the soft water project would benefit every urban household and business in Wanganui.
"The estimated household savings will be a staggering $220 a year & $2200 a household over the next decade."
The $3.8 million bores are just across the road from the city reservoirs, making the water highly accessible.
"The water had to be the right amount, right taste and right temperature and after four years of investigating, we've finally found it."
Mr Laws said the bore work was the biggest engineering project since the upgrade of Victoria Ave in the 1990s but of more value to residents.
Hard water is caused by excess minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. Water is classed as "hard" above 90 parts per million of calcium carbonate; Wanganui's present water supply is 180 parts per million of calcium carbonate.
According to Wanganui District Council research, Wanganui residents could save up to $220 a year by having soft water, through having to replace water heaters less frequently and using less washing detergent and soap. The research found Wanganui residents buy 50 per cent more soap than New Plymouth residents, who enjoy soft water.
Soft water was an item voted on by Wanganui residents last year in Referendum 07, with nearly 72 per cent agreeing it was an important issue.
The Westmere bores will not replace existing bores at Kai Iwi, Maxwell and Brunswick, but will add to them, providing softer water and more security of supply.
"Around half the city's water supply will come from them," Mr Laws said. "This will reduce the risk of running out of water in times of drought and heavy demand."
Mr Laws said credit for the discovery of the new bores must go to council engineering staff and Wanganui Welldrillers.
"This has been a Wanganui solution to a Wanganui problem."
The new bores will be delivering water to the city by July 1, 2009.
PICTURED: Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws drinks to the discovery of a soft water supply with a glass of water straight from one of two new bores at Westmere.
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