Whakatāne District Council is lifting the lid on the full journey of water - from source to tap and back again. 'Wai - It Matters' is an education campaign designed to help the community better understand the essential work required to deliver clean drinking water, manage wastewater, and future-proof stormwater systems.
While water is essential to daily life, many people don’t often consider how it reaches their taps, where it goes once flushed away, or how stormwater is managed.
General Manager Planning, Regulatory & Infrastructure, David Bewley says the campaign takes a deep dive into the critical infrastructure, skilled teams, and regulatory processes that keeps water flowing in the Whakatāne District.
“Our water network never sleeps,” says Mr Bewley. “Our Three Waters team manage millions of litres of water every day - treating, distributing, and discharging it safely back into the environment.”
Mr Bewley says understanding the scale and importance of the district’s water networks is more crucial than ever, with big changes ahead for New Zealand’s water services.
“Councils across the country are responding to new government regulations.” He continues, “As we navigate these changes in how water services are managed, we want our community to be well-informed about how water services work, and what the future may hold.”
“The 'Wai – It matters' campaign offers an opportunity to learn about the journey of water before formal consultation begins in April, when the public will have the chance to share their thoughts about water services."
Curious about how water moves through our district and why change is on the horizon? Find out more at www.whakatane.govt.nz/wai-it-matters.