Reliable Dual-Source Water Supply for Community and Events
Pariroa Marae, located near Kakaramea in South Taranaki, required a modern, compliant water treatment system capable of supplying safe drinking water from both bore sources and a dedicated roof water treatment process. The existing ten-year-old plant, consisting of a single cartridge filter and UV unit, was undersized and prone to performance issues, leaving the community at risk of contamination and non-compliance.
With regular hui and planned housing development, a scalable solution was required to meet future demand - including 42 residents, 40 kōhanga reo teachers and students, and up to 750-day attendees and 250 overnight visitors during major events. The project was undertaken as part of the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) and National Infrastructure and Funding Facility (NIFF) programme to improve rural and marae drinking-water infrastructure.
Integrated Dual-Source Water Treatment with UV and Chlorine Disinfection
FILTEC designed, supplied, and commissioned a new treatment plant integrating both bore and roof water sources. The process train features multimedia and carbon filtration to remove sediment and organic material, followed by dual-stage cartridge filtration (20 µm and 5 µm) for fine particle control. UV disinfection provides microbial protection, while chlorine dosing introduces a stable residual to safeguard the downstream network. The system was sized for 100 m³/day, enabling the marae to meet daily demand and large-event usage while maintaining DWSNZ compliance.
Modular Sheds and Hydraulic Controls for Operational Resilience
Three modular AquaSafe sheds house the treatment components, storage tanks, and control systems. Hydraulic valve controls and ballcock automation optimise flows between raw, pre-treated, and treated water tanks, while backflow prevention and metering enhance operational safety and monitoring. The design maximised use of existing infrastructure where feasible to reduce costs and installation time. Prefabricated assembly streamlined commissioning, ensuring reliability for a site with limited operator availability and future capacity for expansion.
Field Coordination, Site Challenges, and Ongoing Servicing for Compliance
The rural location and limited access required detailed planning and coordination with the marae and local contractors. Buried services, uneven terrain, and integration with legacy pipework were managed through pre-assembly, adaptive hydraulic design, and sequenced installation. The team resolved tank leakage and site drainage issues to prevent future contamination risks. FILTEC continues to provide quarterly servicing, remote monitoring, and local spare-parts support to maintain ongoing compliance and system performance under Taumata Arowai regulation.
Compliant Dual-Source Water Supply Supporting Growth
The completed upgrade has delivered a safe, clear, and fully compliant dual-source water supply for Pariroa Marae and its wider community. The combination of UV and chlorine disinfection provides a robust multi-barrier approach, improving reliability, taste, and overall water quality.
Automation and modular controls have reduced operator input, and the scalable layout ensures future expansion can be achieved without major redesign. With remote monitoring and scheduled servicing in place, the marae now has a resilient, long-term water treatment solution that supports both daily operations and large community gatherings.
