East Rotoiti & Rotomā sewerage scheme
The East Rotoiti Rotomā Sewerage Scheme (the Scheme) aims to protect the health of the waterways, the health of the public, and to provide an essential service to the community. The scheme also aligns with the vision of the Rotorua Te Arawa lakes Programme (a partnership between Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Rotorua Lakes Council and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council):
‘to preserve and protect the lakes for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations while recognising and providing for the traditional relationship of Te Arawa with their ancestral lakes’
The project has come to fruition through a collaborative effort by Rotoiti/Rotomā Sewerage Steering Committee, Rotorua Lakes Council, Te Arawa Lakes Trust and Bay of Plenty Regional Council. The project has also been assisted through funding from the Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry of Health.
The Scheme will provide an essential service to approximately 680 households and has the capacity for future developments.
Protecting our lakes
Water quality has been declining in several Rotorua lakes, including lakes Rotoiti and Rotomā over a period of time and this is why organisations are now working together to help stop the rising nutrient levels.
For Rotoiti and Rotomā, domestic septic tanks contribute to the diminishing water quality as they are a source of pathogens and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus). One of the most effective ways to improve water quality (and protect the lakes) is to remove old septic tanks and replace them with a new system to collect human wastewater, reticulate (pipe) it to a wastewater plant where it can be treated and disposed of.
The East Rotoiti Rotomā Sewerage Scheme
The Scheme includes a wastewater treatment plant built behind the Rotoiti Emery Store, and a reticulation network that connects homes in Rotomā and East Rotoiti to the plant. Each property will have a preliminary on-site system that provides a high level of pre-treatment, a condition of the Resource Consent and Cultural Management Plan. This reduces the risk of para reaching waterways in the event of a breakage or damage to the pipes.
Who has been part of the project development?
Nā wai te hinonga i whakarite?
The project is a collaborative effort by Rotorua Lakes Council, Rotoiti/Rotomā Sewerage Steering Committee, Te Arawa Lakes Trust and Bay of Plenty Regional Council, with funding from the Ministry for the Environment and Ministry of Health.
Working with community and iwi to develop the Scheme
Over several years the community-led Rotoiti Rotomā Steering Committee (established in 2014) oversaw the decision making to identify the best onsite pre-treatment for installation on properties. At the core of the committee’s work were environmental, social, and cultural values. These values informed solutions to provide resilience in the technical aspects of the reticulation network and the wastewater treatment plant in every day usage, as well as in the event of emergencies (e.g. earthquakes).
The project was also guided by the Ngāti Pikiao Cultural Impacts Team, who continue to provide specialist cultural and technical knowledge to the project. The team ensures that the recommendations of the two cultural impact assessments (one for the reticulation network, and one for the Haumingi 9B3B wastewater treatment plant site) are incorporated into the Council’s planning, design, construction and operation of the Scheme.
Rotorua Lakes Council continues to work in partnership with iwi to ensure effective engagement with mana whenua in the completion and ongoing management of the Scheme.
As a result of the community and iwi engagement, a Scheme has been agreed and includes:
- All properties in Rotomā and Rotoiti will have an on-site system that provides a high level of pre-treatment (this a condition of the Resource Consent and Cultural Management Plan).
- 47km of main pipes (reticulation) connecting homes to the treatment plant.
- A wastewater treatment plant (built behind the Rotoiti Emery Store, on land owned by Haumingi B93B). The treatment plant uses natural bacteria (to remove nutrients), a membrane bio reactor (to filter and remove more nutrients), Ultraviolet (UV) light (to disinfect in the same way that the sun does), and then irrigating to pumice soils (providing additional natural filtration and safe dispersal).
- 3 pumping stations, 2 flushing stations and 5 flow monitoring sites.
The process enables the disposal of wastewater in a way that is environmentally and culturally appropriate, and technically robust.
Latest updates:
East Rotoiti Rotomā Sewerage Scheme – community update March 2024
East Rotoiti Rotomā Sewerage Scheme – community update December 2023
East Rotoiti Rotomā Sewerage scheme – community update September 2023
East Rotoiti Rotomā Sewerage Scheme – community update March 2023
East Rotoiti Rotomā Sewerage Scheme – community update December 2022
East Rotoiti Rotomā Sewerage Scheme – community update August 2022
East Rotoiti Rotomā Sewerage Scheme update for April 2022
East Rotoiti Rotomā Sewerage Scheme January Open Day postponed
East Rotoiti Rotomā Sewerage Scheme update for December 2021
Biolytix pre-installation information booklet
Latest updates to East Rotoiti residents (4 October 2021)
Latest update to East Rotoiti landowners (16 July 2021)
- View a short video showing how the Biolytix system works
- Download a PDF of the system owner’s manual and access replacement stickers
FAQs
Pātai Putuputu
At the core of the committee’s work were environmental, social, and cultural values. These values informed solutions to provide resilience in the technical aspects of the reticulation network and the wastewater treatment plant in everyday usage, as well as in the event of emergencies (e.g. earthquakes).
It provides specialist cultural and technical knowledge to the project. The team ensures that the recommendations of the two cultural impact assessments (one for the reticulation network, and one for the Haumingi 9B3B wastewater treatment plant site) are incorporated into the Council’s planning, design, construction and operation of the Scheme.
The plant is on land owned by Haumingi 9B 3B Incorporation, behind the Rotoiti Emery Store (1434 State Highway 30, Rotorua).
The treatment plant uses natural bacteria (to remove nutrients), a membrane bio reactor (to filter and remove more nutrients), Ultraviolet (UV) light (to disinfect in the same way that the sun does), and then irrigating to pumice soils (providing additional natural filtration and safe dispersal). The plant emulates the natural biological process of digesting waste and aims to reduce the impact of the environment.
Properties at Rotomā have a STEP (Septic Tank Effluent Pump) system, which is an on-site wastewater pre-treatment system.
There has been a thorough and robust process to select the system that best meets the required performance criteria including operational effectiveness, system safety, effluent performance, cultural alignment and long-term cost-effectiveness. The awarded system for East Rotoiti is Biolytix BF2. This is the system that also met the earlier trial criteria.
The Biolytix BF2 Eco Pod (system) is the approved on-site wastewater system for East Rotoiti. There will be one system installed per dwelling, and it will sit below the ground surface with an access cover above ground. It is connected to the electrical panel of the house. The system uses micro-organisms, and tiger worms, to break down organic material. This is a natural process that reduces any offensive odours from wastewater.
When wastewater enters the system, solid waste is separated from liquid using filter beds. Tiger worms and other organisms break down waste solids and convert them into liquid. The tiger worms live throughout the filter bed, naturally aerating it, and wastewater is broken down by microorganisms as it trickles through the filter bed. The treated wastewater is then pumped from the on-site system through the local reticulated network to the main Wastewater Treatment Plant on Haumingi 9B3B for final treatment and disinfection prior to discharge.
For more information about the system visit www.biolytix.com or contact Council on 07 348 4199 to speak to an engineer about how the process works.
You can download a copy of the Biolytix pre-installation information booklet here.
Existing systems are leaching nutrients and pathogens to the waterways including Lake Rotoiti and Lake Rotomā. To protect the water quality of the lakes, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Rotorua Lakes Council and Te Arawa Lakes Trust have agreed that a wastewater treatment system is a crucial project. Now that the wastewater treatment plant has been built, the Bay of Plenty Regional council requires all properties within the reticulated area to connect to the scheme.
Council remains very aware that the final cost is a concern for residents and it’s important to note that every effort has been made to constrain final costs.
There will be a capital contribution from landowners for the system. This capital contribution won’t need to be paid until the scheme is completed (under current Council decisions) and the full, actual costs are settled. This will likely be in two years’ time (2023).
All scheme participants will pay the same charge (except some community facilities such as schools, marae and sports clubs due to their importance to the community). Council’s advice is that it will continue to pursue the goal that the lowest possible net costs are achieved for the local ratepayers.
The payment options are:
– a lump sum paid once the scheme is complete (likely 2023), or
– instalments paid over 25 years as will be agreed by Council in due course) added each year to rates.
Hardship assistance is available through council for anyone unable to meet the cost. This will be assessed on an individual basis.
Owners may also qualify for a Rates Rebate. You can read more about Rates Rebates at www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/ratesrebates or call council on 07 348 4199 to ask one of our Customer Centre team members about Rates Rebates.
This option incurs interest each year.
There will also be an annual operating cost per annum, which is equalised across Rotorua district to all properties connected to a wastewater scheme. This operating cost covers maintenance, repairs and system renewals.
Ngā Whenua Kahupapa Hai Tiaki i ngā Rotomoana
Rotorua Lakes Council is now looking for approval from landowners to install pipes required to connect properties to the new treatment plant. RLC held three hui-ā-hapū with Māori land owners and trustees in October 2020.
