How the River Recharge scheme works

Rain water is filtered through sands and gravels and seeps into the aquifer which provides natural underground storage.  Water from the deep Waimea aquifer is pumped and discharged into the river down stream of the Waikanae Treatment Plant intake.

This ensures the required minimum flow and ecological balance in the river is maintained, while allowing us to increase our uptake of fresh river water.  The scheme is expected to be operational in 2014 and will secure our water supply for the next 50 years.