Innovative water ideas in pipeline

Anna Wallis Photo/File

Drains. They are not the most interesting of items, but when it comes to infrastructure we in Wanganui have learned it pays to take notice of such utilitarian things.

And Kritzo Venter's ideas of rain gardens are, well, absorbing.

As he outlined in the Chronicle on December 14, he wants stormwater to be put to a better use than just being directed through drains and pipesto end up in the Whanganui River. And it seems many urban streams and creeks have disappeared into concrete channels. He wants to change that too.

The idea of rain gardens is ultimately to improve water quality; by taking all that falls on the hard surfaces - the likes of roofs, driveways, paths, compacted lawns, tiled yards and car parks - and filtering it through layers of soil or gravel below surface plantings.

The theory harks back to wetlands being the best natural sieve to remove impurities from water.

In places such as Australia, where they are uber-aware of water issues and quality, they are becoming a feature of homes.

Mr Venter's ideas go beyond keeping water clean.

Whole water systems in urban areas have been enveloped in concrete pipes. Who knew Los Angeles once had a large river running through it? The vast concrete half-pipes so beloved of movie makers for car chases are part of the network that has turned a river largely into an underground sewer.

Wanganui is on a slightly smaller scale but large-scale habitat change has meant Churton Creek, which drains Westmere Lake and enters the Whanganui River near BP Taupo Quay, is completely in pipes. Eels can't live in concrete and there are now no eels in the lake.

Mr Venter has more plans in the pipeline. His pilot scheme at Aramoho Cemetery, where a central roundabout will be used to store excess water and rain gardens installed, will be a fascinating watch.