A major new water reservoir above Ōtūmahi Lane in Te Teko is now complete, marking a significant milestone in water resilience for the Edgecumbe and Te Teko communities.
The Ōtūmahi Reservoir can hold up to 4.2 million litres of treated drinking water - enough to fill nearly two Olympic-sized swimming pools, or supply up to 20,000 people for two summer days. It’s designed to support everyday domestic use, firefighting, and essential services like schools, marae, trade premises, and local industries.
Water for the reservoir is sourced from two bores at the Ōtūmahi Water Treatment Plant, one commissioned in 2017 and the second added in 2024. After treatment, surface-mounted pumps lift the water to the elevated reservoir through a new pipeline. From there, a new delivery pipe connects the reservoir to the existing network on Paul Road, helping maintain consistent pressure across the supply area.
“The reservoir was built over seven months, using reinforced concrete panels made locally,” says Manager Three Waters, Jim Finlay. “Twelve contracting companies contributed to the project, nine local and three specialist firms, with exceptional coordination and no delays.”
Key features of the project include:
- 1.9 kilometres of welded high-density polyethylene piping
- Stainless steel pipe manifolds and fittings
- Installation of water quality monitoring equipment
- Retaining walls, drainage, and landscaping
The reservoir site, previously a paddock, has been planted with native vegetation to enhance land stability and support local ecosystems.
Water quality is monitored 24/7 through Whakatāne District Council’s real-time data platform, with monitoring equipment installed both at the plant and after the reservoir. The structure itself has been designed to withstand earthquakes and extreme weather.
This project is part of a wider infrastructure upgrade, with pipe sizing designed to allow for future network expansion. While the additional storage won’t completely remove the need for water restrictions during extended dry periods, it will provide greater buffer capacity and improve resilience when bore water availability is reduced.
ENDS