Palmerston North’s investment in water services

All three waters feature heavily in Palmerston North’s proposed investment over the coming decade.

Nature Calls

Palmerston North’s wastewater treatment plant currently meets the conditions of its existing resource consent. However, the Resource Management Act requires councils to regularly reapply for wastewater discharge consents and reassess treatment approaches as environmental laws, standards and community expectations change.

Since the current consent was granted in 2006, requirements have become more stringent, meaning the existing treatment system would not meet future standards as the city grows.

In 2021, the council identified a best practicable option involving very high levels of treatment and a combination of river and land discharge. When this option was costed through the 2024-34 Long-Term Plan, the estimated cost was $640 million, which was identified as unaffordable for the community. The project budget was subsequently revised to $480 million plus inflation, and further work began to assess more affordable options.

New national wastewater treatment standards have now been released, and early indications suggest these standards may enable more affordable solutions while still meeting environmental and public health requirements. These standards are currently being assessed, with community feedback on any preferred option expected this year. 

As well as investing in wastewater treatment through the Nature Calls project, Palmerston North is also continuing to upgrade and renew wastewater pipes and pump stations.

Stormwater and drinking water

Between 2024 and 2034, significant investment has been identified to maintain and improve Palmerston North’s stormwater and drinking water networks, respond to climate change, meet new regulatory requirements, and support a growing city.

Planned investment in drinking water includes $28M to meet new drinking water standards, $10M to replace key water mains, and further upgrades to support growth in areas such as Kākātangiata ($8M), Whakarongo ($9M), and the North East Industrial Zone ($8M).

Drinking water for the city comes from the Turitea Dam in the Tararua Ranges and a network of bores across Palmerston North. New drinking water quality assurance rules require additional treatment at some bores, such as ultraviolet (UV) systems or new reservoirs, to ensure water remains safe and reliable.

Stormwater investment includes $23M for upgrades across the city, $23M to support growth at Kākātangiata, $18M to support growth in Aokautere, and $14M to reduce the risk of flooding in existing urban areas. This work is focused on improving resilience to more frequent and intense rainfall events, which are expected to increase as a result of climate change. 

Stormwater and drinking water upgrades include practical changes to existing infrastructure to make sure the network can cope as the city grows. This can involve installing new pipes, increasing the size of existing pipes, upgrading pump stations, improving stormwater capacity to manage heavy rainfall, and in some cases building new water bores to supply growing areas. These upgrades help ensure homes and businesses continue to have reliable water services while reducing the risk of flooding and protecting the environment.