Drainage & Water Services

Drainage Overview and Function

The Timaru District Council provides public sewer and stormwater systems in Geraldine, Pleasant Point, Temuka and Timaru. The system is made up from a number of components:

Piped collection system
Pumping/treatment and disposal systems
Stormwater runoff control and disposal system

Water Supply Overview

There are 13 water supplies within the Timaru District Council, each with different operating parameters. These vary from open water race systems supplying water for stock to piped reticulation systems supplying water for domestic and commercial use.

The assets are:

Intakes and Bulk Pipelines
Treatment Plants
Reservoirs
Reticulation networks

Application Form for Services

A Service Application is required for all works carried out associated with Council owned asset systems including:

Public Water Supplies
Public Sewer Systems
Public Stormwater Systems
Any work affecting Roads and Footpaths (including berms)

View the following PDF files:

Water Schemes and Restrictions

The Timaru District Council manages a number of Water Supplies.

Additional information is available here on a number of these schemes please download the PDF file by clicking on each area. Current water restrictions are shown alongside the relevant area. All schemes are monitored for demand and reviewed daily.

Last Updated (Thursday, 26 January 2012 13:00)

Backflow Prevention

Protecting your Drinking Water

The Timaru District Council is committed to supplying water which is safe to drink and has a range of treatment systems to eliminate microbiological contamination and minimise risk to health. There is potential for every property to contaminate the water supply reticulation by backflow.

Water Tank Sterilisation

How to Sterilise Your Water Supply Tanks

Rain Water Tank

The Timaru District Council recommends that all tanks are sterilized annually (If the tank has no accumulated material in it steps 2-4 may be omitted).

1.Turn off the water supply into the tank.

2. Drain the tank completely.

3. Clean out the inside of the tank of all accumulated matter.

4. Liberally spray 'Janola' or a similar chlorine based product over the internal floor and walls of the tank.

5. Refill the tank adding .3 litres of 'Janola' per 1000 litres (220 imperial gallons) of tank volume. Allow this water to stand in the tank for at least 30 minutes.

6. Drain the tank completely and flush with clean water.

7. Refill the tank with fresh water.

The use of 'Janola' will ensure that the tank is adequately sterilised and suitable for holding drinking water. It is important that the tank is completely drained at step 6 as the strong 'Janola' concentration will make the water extremely unpleasant to drink.

Should you be on a Restrictor System you need to be aware that the filling time for your tank will be extended.

For assistance calculating the volume of the tank please measure the diameter and water depth of the tank then please contact us.

Water Conservation Guide

Water is a precious commodity which can be in short supply during our summers. Water conservation should be practised at all times to ensure water is used wisely.

Most people think water conservation is in the garden but there are also many methods to conserve water in the house. A few methods are listed below. If you know of others please advise us.

Water Meters

The Timaru District Council installs water meters on industrial and commercial properties and other sites as required.

Meters are installed to:

measure and charge for water
encourage water conservation
give data for system design and analysis

All water that passes through a meter is charged for including all leakage and wasted water.

If you are metered it is recommended that you establish a routine for reading the meter weekly to minimise the possibility of paying for leakage.

Our staff will assist with locating leakage if requested on a case by case basis.

Invoices are sent six monthly for smaller consumers and two monthly for larger consumers.

When a commercial or industrial property is sold a final reading of the water meter must be made.

Please contact customer services to arrange this phone 687 7200 or Geraldine residents may use our free phone
0800 484 632.

Drainage Asset Management

The asset comprises

gravity collector, trunk, interceptor and pressure sewer mains, (413km).
gravity collector and gully stormwater mains (148km).
land drainage channels.
17 sewerage pumping stations
2 stormwater pumping stations
3 oxidation pond sewerage treatment systems.
1 wastewater screening plant
1 wastewater ocean outfall

The asset and the management of it involves the acquisition of existing field data and inputting the data to the Hansen Infrastructure Management System.

From Hansan, maintenance/ refurbishment/ replacement strategies are developed.

Drainage Pumping and Treatment

The pumping and treatment facilities are operated by staff employed by the Timaru District Council.

Wastewater pumping stations
Stormwater pumping stations
Three Oxidation pond wastewater treatment systems. (Temuka, Geraldine, Pleasant Point)
One Wastewater Screening plant

It is expected that there is no unauthorised wastewater discharges from the facilities and that disposal conditions are met.

Drainage Compliance Monitoring

Monitoring comprises of:

(a) Tradewaste discharge monitoring.
(b) Monitoring of Commercial Premises.
(c) Compliance of Discharge Consent Monitoring.
(d) Reticulation Flow Monitoring.
(e) Oxidation Pond Monitoring.
(f) Inflow/Infiltration Survey Monitoring.
(g) Environmental Response Unit.