This project looks at assessing multiple options to upgrade the raw water intake from the Waihou River to ensure sufficient flow is pumped to the Te Aroha Water Treatment Plant without causing issues with the pumps, especially during periods of high demand in the summer.
The Te Aroha Water Treatment Plant (WTP) currently has four raw water intakes, three stream intakes and one river intake (Waihou River). The consent requires the stream intakes to be turned off when the Waihou River level is low. This is typically during summer when demand is high. During these times of high flow, the pumps experience cavitation due to debris and fauna buildup on the screens causing low levels in the wet well.
