A new $4.4 million water treatment plant for Milton, which only cost the district's ratepayers about one-quarter of that price, will be officially opened on May 10.
The Department of Corrections paid 75% of the price tag as it needed the new facility to service its new Otago prison at nearby Milburn.
The plant, at the inter- Jules Witt section of North Branch Rd and Water Tower Rd, just north of Milton, will be officially opened by Clutha Mayor Juno Hayes at 1pm that day. The public will get a chance to inspect the new plant from 12.30pm to 4pm.
Clutha District Council district assets manager Jules Witt said it was a good opportunity for the public to see the new membrane technology which uses state-of-the-art tube filters to separate water from solids and pathogens.
‘‘This is the first plant of its type in the Clutha district and will meet the new New Zealand drinking water standards that were introduced in 2005.''
The old plant, just 300m away, was at the end of its useful life and without major upgrades, Mr Witt said, did not have the ability to meet future water quantity and quality requirements.
The new plant has double the capacity of the old facility, but is expected to have the same operating costs. Provisions have been made for expanding its capacity if required.
Fulton Hogan Civil South Ltd was awarded the contract.
Mr Witt said all Milton residents, as well as the wider community, were invited to the official opening.
The new plant experienced some delays two years ago when tenders came in about $2 million higher than the council had expected.
The council declined all three tenders submitted for the project, with the lowest tender 62% above the $3.4 million estimate.
The contract was put out to tender again and awarded last year.
Council and department staff marked the project's start at a sod-turning ceremony on the site in March last year.
Since completion, the new plant has gone through a rigorous testing and commissioning process.
