31 January 14, 2015 Mahurangi Matters waterfeature

bewaterwise FEATURE

Septic tanks under Council microscopePublic concern over the impact of septic tanks on water quality in the Whangateau catchment has prompted Auckland Council to begin a weekly sampling programme.The testing regime has yet to be fully decided but it is likely to be carried out at possibly eight sites, on a weekly basis for two months.Council will be sampling for nutrients, bacteria and faecal sources from freshwater and seawater.A contractor is expected to make a site

visit this month to confirm sampling sites at streams and their interface with the coast at Whangateau and Ti Point.A Council spokesperson says the sampling programme is in response to concerns raised by the public during consultation over the renewal of the Omaha Wastewater Treatment Plant consent.“Some people believe that septic tanks are contaminating the harbour,” the spokesperson said.“We will analyse the data for

contamination, if any, and report it to interested parties so that they can help minimise any problems that may be stemming from poorly performing septic tanks or other contamination sources.“This is not specifically part of a wider water testing programme, although we do similar work at other sites from time-to-time.”Council’s Sustainable Catchments Programme is funding the water quality investigation.

There will be at least eight sampling sites around Whangateau and Ti Point.

Key messages relating to good management of septic tanks• Have your septic tank

regularly maintained by a professional

• Reduce your water use, for example by taking shorter showers

• Avoid a water rush hour by spreading out shower and laundry use

• Don’t use bleach or chemical cleaning products – they kill microbes that break down waste

Just remembering to do some really simple things can help protect our valuable coastal environment.

Water saving tipsSaving water should start with the purchase of water-saving appliances or the installation of low-flow fittings, but the easiest way to save water is to think about how you use it.By repairing leaks or turning off the tap when brushing your teeth you can save thousands of litres of water a year. If you pay for your water through water metering, that will also save you money.Here’s some water saving ideas:• Replace older, less efficient toilets

with 4.5/3L dual flush toilets.• Swap out your showerhead with a

WELS 3-star rated water-conserving showerhead and you can save more than 29,000 litres of water annually.

• Fix leaky taps and install tapware with water-saving aerators to effortlessly save hundreds of litres of water a year.

• Use the appropriate water level and load size on the washing machine. Consider purchasing a front-load washing machine.

• Use a broom rather than a hose to clean off driveways, steps and sidewalks.

• Water the garden during the coolest part of the day, generally in the morning, and avoid watering on windy days.

Source, smarterhomes.org.nz

32 Mahurangi Matters January 14, 2015 waterfeature

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‘Water, water everywhere and not a drop to spare’ comes from an old mariner’s rhyme, but it’s not true of us land lubbers is it? In our beautiful country, we have an abundance of water everywhere, on land and sea. Yes, we have the occasional drought, but generally New Zealand is a very green and wet land with an abundance of water falling from the sky and an abundance of water trapped in our underground aquifers. But is it good to drink?Rain water harvestingThis is my favourite water supply. If I had my way, every home in NZ would have its own rain water tank which could supply the whole house or at the very least the laundry, toilets and garden. Rain water is generally a very good quality water and tastes good to drink.However, it’s usually a little acidic and always picks up whatever contaminants are on your roof. This is usually bird droppings, dust, sediment, leaves, birds and chemical residue, the worst of which is bacteria and E-coli from bird droppings . However, all of these can be effectively filtered out to make it safe to drink. We have new technology, ultrafiltration membrane filters which guarantee to remove E-coli from water.Cleanliness is next to Godliness, as my grandmother always said and it’s the same for rain water. Clean out gutters annually or more often if you have over hanging trees. Make sure the water runs freely through the gutters into the tank – you don’t want water sitting in the gutters breeding mossies. Don’t put anything in gutters that will trap leafs and sediment – unless you like your water the colour of tea but tasting worse. There is a new NZ made product that effectively filters 100 per cent of the water before it enters the tank and it doesn’t block up. In fact, it’s self-cleaning. By pulling a simple

Water do’s and don’tsBy Steve ReynoldsPure Water Services North and Aqua Filter

lever, it dumps out all the sediment, leaves, birds, possums and pollen. It also converts a wet system into a dry system if needed. Do clean out your water tank every two to three years or more often if you have lots of leaves falling on your roof. Just before Christmas, I was working with John Carr from Mobi Kair and between us we tipped out over 20 buckets of hard firm sludge and leaf matter from the bottom of a tank In fact, in one corner, the leaf matter was nearly dry from the compression – strange but true. Make sure that you can drain all the water from the down pipes going to your water tank – the ‘U’ tube going to the tank is the biggest breeding ground for E-coli, bacteria and mossies at this time of year – when it rains where does it all end up?Bore waterLots of people are drinking water from bores or ‘aquifers’. The golden rule here is – get an accurate full water test done every two to three years and definitely before you drink it. Different minerals, metals and trace elements such as copper or boron can be present in bore water, which are tasteless and odourless but can be harmful to your health in excess amounts.Get a regular test done because things can change underground in our shaky isles. Keep the bore head area clean and clean out the tank if you are pumping to storage. Don’t put up with water staining or mineral build up on splash backs, tap ware and porcelain, as most of these problems can be sorted.Town supply (Snells, Algies and Warkworth)If your tea or coffee doesn’t taste right then it might not be just the milk that’s off – it could be the main ingredient, the water. Do not put up with water that doesn’t taste right.

continued pg33

33 January 14, 2015 Mahurangi Matters waterfeature

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Water do’s and don’ts continued from previous pageRemove chemicals like chlorine and heavy metals from the water you drink and bathe in with a proper filtration fitting, either on one tap or for the whole house.Bottled waterWhy? A litre of water is more expensive at the gas station than petrol, but people buy it anyway. Perhaps it makes them feel safe and it tastes good. But bottled water is filtered and put in a

plastic bottle made from crude oil, which is not BPA free and leaches chemicals. Why not fill a glass bottle with safe, great tasting water from home instead. And the last ‘do on my list is do drink plenty of water this summer. It is the elixir of life, will cure just about anything and is what you are mostly made of – well, in physical form anyway.

A free education programme to primary and intermediate aged children is available to schools in the Mahurangi area through Watercare.Teacher Sally Smith says the water quality lessons incorporate hands-on activities about water, wastewater and the local environment.The students are involved in measuring turbidity, pH and nitrate levels, and identifying bugs in local waterways.“This allows us to make an assessment of the quality of the water,” she says.“We can then discuss how tipping every day substances such as detergents and laundry powders, and tea and coffee down the drain changes a waterways pH level and the impact this has on the natural communities in the water.“Often it’s the parents who accompany us on these trips who are most surprised by what they learn.”

Sally says the Watercare programme is based on the NZ Curriculum and complements the Enviro Schools programme, which many Auckland schools already participate in.“The lessons all incorporate practical sessions, field trips or experiments. “Students are given opportunities to practise, develop and hone their key competency skills during these practical sessions and afterwards by using the supporting materials.”Lessons also cover what’s in drinking water, and students can learn where their water comes from, how it is treated and how water reaches their tap at home. Water conservation, stormwater and wastewater issues are also discussed.If any school is interested in accessing the Water programme, they can book a lesson with Sally at ssmith@water.co.nz or phone 09 539 7316.

Water education starts youngThe Watercare programme is taught at schools throughout Auckland.