Aucklanders can now enjoy the benefits of better water quality with the completion of the Ōkahu Bay stormwater network separation project. The project, to separate stormwater from wastewater pipes, will directly improve the water quality in Ōkahu Bay, and the wider Hauraki Gulf.
The project’s construction commenced in October 2019 to improve water quality by reducing wet weather wastewater overflows. Construction involved extending and upgrading existing ageing stormwater pipes and connecting properties to the stormwater system.
Prior to this project, water quality has been poor in the Ōkahu Bay catchment and during rainfall the combined stormwater and wastewater systems would frequently become overwhelmed and spill wastewater into the environment.
Before this project finished, there had been up to 22 wet weather overflows a year during 2019-2021 from one of the engineered overflow points. Since the project has been fully completed, there has been one wet weather overflow from this location recorded in the last few months.
Ōrākei Ward Councillor Desley Simpson explains that the “regionally funded project was enabled through the last 10-year budget’s Water Quality Targeted Rate and is the first step towards improving water quality in our area.
"While we still have a long way to go, it’s important to acknowledge the completion of a project that was one of the very first initiatives to be funded as part of the Water Quality Targeted Rate.”
With the completion of the Ōkahu Bay stormwater network separation project, beachgoers can expect to see more swimmable days as water quality conditions improve and the risk of wastewater overflows is reduced. There will be a period of monitoring over the coming 12 months to determine if any further upgrades are required.
Read more at Our Auckland