New tool for lake protection

20 April 2016

A new filtering device being installed on the lakefront by Taupo District Council will help prevent sediment, oil and debris from entering the lake.

The stormwater quality improvement device is being installed near the Lake Taupo Hole in One Challenge over the next few weeks. Water that flows down from between Ruapehu and Titiraupenga streets will go through the underground device, which uses a vortex to separate and remove contaminants from the water. It will be emptied regularly to remove the waste it collects.

Stormwater and solid waste asset manager Brent Aitken said the location was chosen because it was a high traffic area, which increases the likelihood of debris ending up in the lake.

This device is a fantastic tool for protecting our waterways and it will make a really positive difference, Mr Aitken said. We will be installing more of these devices at major outlets to the lake over the next few years. The devices have been budgeted for in the Long-term Plan 2015-2025 as part of the council's commitment to looking after the environment.

The device will work alongside the Enviropods already installed in drains around Taupo that collect larger objects before they reach the stormwater system. The Enviropods are the first line of defence against rubbish, and the new filtering device is the second, he said. This means by the time water reaches the lake, much of the debris has been removed.

Taupo drainage company E and J Contractors will be installing the device from the start of May.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lisa Nairne Communications Manager 07 376 0762 027 839 8410

Vicki Waterhouse Communications Advisor 07 376 0718 027 484 2549

Taupo District Council