Kutarere Water Scheme flows into the future with support from Trust Horizon

Extra peace of mind is on its way to Kutarere, with a $21,046 grant from Trust Horizon securing the future of the community’s water supply.

Since 2007, the Kutarere Water Scheme has been responsible for bringing clean, safe drinking water to Kutarere Marae, kohanga reo, Kutarere School and 30 households. With costs starting at $25 per month, affordability is central to the Scheme’s purpose.

However, when changes were made to the Water Services Act, a new filtration system had to be installed – which significantly impacted the Kutarere Water Scheme’s running costs.

“The upgraded system’s restrictions put the old bore pump under extreme pressure,” says Richard Kemeny, Kutarere Water Scheme’s Co-Treasurer and Caretaker. “It got to the point where the pump was running 23 hours a day, when it used to only run for 4 or 5 hours. It could fail at pretty much any moment, which would leave the whole community without water.” 

The bore pump’s extended running time has seen the Scheme’s monthly power bills rise from $280 to $528 since November last year. The cost of consumables also proved a looming issue. “Crown Infrastructure Partner (CIP) currently covers the cost of our consumables, but the Scheme will eventually need to cover those, too,” says Kemeny. “That includes UV lamps and sleeves, UV system calibration, monthly telemetry fees, cartridge filters, general maintenance and more.”

Aware that $25 monthly was already a stretch for some in the community, Kemeny sought alternative ways to keep costs down for consumers, starting with the Scheme’s power bill.

Kemeny and the Kutarere Water Scheme team – Dave Horwood (President), Diane Black (Co-Treasurer), and Gaylene Kohanui (Secretary) – applied to Trust Horizon for a grant to cover the cost of a new pump, capable of keeping up with the new filtration system. The $21,046 grant was approved in May, and the upgrade’s wheels are now in motion.

Alongside the bore pump, the grant will also cover the cost of a new lightning surge protection system. The Water Scheme’s system is housed in a tin shed on a hilltop location, making it a vulnerable target for lightning strikes.

“We’re getting more lightning storms than we’ve ever had before, and if the system was fried I don't know what we’d do,” says Kemeny. “I’ve just been waiting for the text to come through that our water treatment plant's blown up.” With work underway on a protective system, that text will likely never need to be sent.

Trust Horizon recognised the importance of protecting the Kutarere community’s water supply through weather events. “For the almost 100 people who rely on the Kutarere Water Scheme for their everyday life, the system’s failure would be catastrophic,” says Trust Horizon Trustee, Kevin Hennessy. “Any measures to help safeguard the future of the community’s water supply are well worth supporting.”  

In the future, Kemeny and the Kutarere Water Scheme team hope to install solar panels to help bring running costs down even further. “We really want to future-proof everything, to have that kind of security behind us and in front of us,” Kemeny says. “The support from Trust Horizon will mean great peace of mind for the whole community, and we’re very thankful.”

If you want to apply for funding from Trust Horizon, look at our funding page here for more information.