Water and Sanitary Services Assessments (WSSA)
During 2005, the Council prepared Water and Sanitary Services Assessments (WSSA or the Assessments). Their purpose is:
- To improve public health and the environment in the district
- To ensure the ability of water and sanitary services to meet current and future demand
- To plan for the future upgrading of services where required
They are required by the Local Government Act 2002 and include both private and Council owned and operated services.
Scope
The Assessments covers the following services:
- Water Services - Drinking water supply
- Wastewater services
- Stormwater services - Sanitary Services - Public conveniences
- Cemeteries and crematoria
Solid Waste is also included, but is sufficiently covered by Council's Solid Waste Management Plan.
The assessments must:
- Describe the nature of existing services
- Describe the adequacy and quality of services
- Identify current and future demand for the services
- Identify and assess risks (including public health risks)
- Identify options to address issues and meet future demand for the services
- State the Timaru District Council intended role in meeting current/future demands
- State the Timaru District Council proposals for meeting current/future demands, including new/replacement infrastructure
Council identified 23 communities for water services, as outlined below:
This map (1.81 MB) illustrates the scope of water services covered by the Assessments. Sanitary Services were addressed on a district-wide basis.
Process
Timaru District Council carried out the assessment process for each community during 2004-2005, as summarised below:
Identified Current and Future Issues
The following describes the main issues identified by the assessments:
Water Services
- Water Supply Quality - Some Council supplied communities require upgrading to meet the Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand 2005 (DWSNZ). There are some health risks associated with non-Council serviced communities.
- Water Supply Adequacy - Some community resentment occurs when water restrictions are imposed. The amount of unaccounted for water (water leakages) could be high for some communities.
- Wastewater and Stormwater - For wastewater and stormwater reticulated communities, no significant demand was identified for an increase in the level of service (i.e. more than what is currently provided). For non-reticulated communities, some demand was noted for an increase in the level of service.
Sanitary Services
- Sanitary Services - Some demand was identified for additional public toilets and improved signage in some places. Timaru will need to find a new cemetery site within the next ten years and Temuka may have some issues under Environment Canterbury's Draft Natural Resources Regional Plan (NRRP).
Other issues
- Future Growth - This could be an issue if various types of growth are significant (e.g. population, increases in the number of houses, tourist numbers). There is an increasing demand for the extension of water services into some rural areas.
- Proposed Natural Resources Region Plan (NRRP) Issues - Environment Canterbury's regional plan will have a number of impacts.
- Natural Hazards & Climate Change - Impacts of earthquake, flooding and climate change require consideration.
Council Decisions
Council approved the following 
decisions (33.51 kB) regarding its intended role in meeting current and future demands for these services. Budgets for these projects were incorporated as part of the Sewer, Stormwater, Water Supply, Cemeteries and Public Toilets activities in the 2006 LTCCP.
Water and Sanitary Services Assessments
Copies of the completed Assessments can be found here:
- By individual community
- Sanitary Services Assessment
