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5-Waters Volume 1
1 Introduction
The Selwyn District Council (or Council) provides five water services to its ratepayers, these are Water Supply, Wastewater, Stormwater, Land Drainage and Water Races.
Council supplies clean safe water to drink for households and removes wastewater and rain water in a way that protects the health of the population and natural environment. Council also provides river water for livestock and drains land so that it is usable.
This section sets out the purpose of the Activity Management Plan (AcMP), indicates the intended level of service, summarises the districts assets and recognises the key challenges the district will face over the next ten years.
1.1 Purpose of the plan
The purpose of this AcMP is to outline and summarise the Council's long-term asset management approach for the provision and intergenerational management of water, wastewater, stormwater, water race and land drainage services - “the 5Waters" throughout the District. This may also be considered the overall objective of Asset Management.
This AcMP is intended to be read in conjunction with the Long Term Plan (LTP) and fulfils requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 (and amendments), - Schedule 10.
The purpose of the plan is to outline:
- The services provided now and in the future;
- The linkages between agreed community outcomes and levels of service;
- Acquisition, operation, maintenance, renewal and disposal of assets;
- Assessment and mitigation of risk;
- Funding of services; and
- Proactive knowledge improvement.
1.2 Structure and Format
The AcMP document structure is summarised below in Table 1‑1. This volume of the AcMP should be read in conjunction with Volume 2,3,4,5 and 6 - Water Supplies, Wastewater, Stormwater, Water Races and Land Drainage.
Table
1‑1 AcMP Structure
| Introduction | Sets out the purpose of the Activity Management Plan, indicates the key stakeholders and shows the plans framework. |
| Strategy, Goals, Objectives and Procedures | Identifies Council Strategies; National Policies, Regional Policies and Plans; Council Policies, Legislation; Bylaws; and Standards and Guidelines. |
| Activity Areas | Covers the ownership of 5Waters assets and the description of assets managed in this plan. |
| Management and Organisation structure | Sets out the organisational structure of the assets department, the consultation procedures that are adhered to and relationships with key stakeholders of the Council. |
| Levels of Service | Defines the level of service for the 5Waters Activities and the performance measures by which the service levels are assessed. |
| Growth and Demand | Provides details of growth forecasts which affect the management and use of all 5Waters assets. |
| Lifecycle Management | Outlines what is planned to manage and operate the assets at the agreed levels of service while optimising lifecycle costs. |
| Infrastructure Sustainability | Details the management of sustainability within the 5Waters Activity and the impact of climate cycles and trends on the district. |
| Risk Management | Details the risk management process utilised for assessing and managing risk as well as highlighting critical assets within the 5Waters activities. |
| Asset Management Process and Practices | Outlines the information available and the systems used to make decisions on how the assets will be managed. |
| Financial Summary | Identifies the financial requirements resulting from all of the information provided in the sections prior.
|
| Improvement Plan | Details the improvements to asset management and the activity management plans which are planned over the next three years.
|
1.3 Summary of Assets
The sustainable use of a safe water supply and the disposal of wastewater are fundamental to the health of all people and to the protection of the natural environment. The Council provides drinking water to all urban areas and some rural areas and wastewater disposal to most urban areas. These services provide an effective way to protect public health and to protect the natural environment.
In fulfilling Council's responsibilities to ensure that occupied buildings are sanitary, the Local Government Act – LGA and the Health Act require the Council to continue to provide the reticulated water supply and wastewater services that it owns and maintain its capacity (refer section 130 of LGA).
The open channel land drainage schemes provide the lowland areas of the district with an effective and efficient method of lowering groundwater levels. This water is ultimately discharged to Te Waihora / Lake Ellesmere and the Pacific Ocean. As a secondary use, stormwater also flows into and through the land drainage systems.
Appropriate land drainage ensures the rural community has land suitable to farm and live on. In the same way, these schemes provide some townships with a practical way of keeping houses, roads and businesses free of flood waters, by taking away stormwater.
The open channel water race schemes take river and stream water, distributing it by gravity through open channel for uses such as stock, irrigation, shelter belts, race side flora and fauna, and amenity values within urban townships. This service provides the rural communities with a water source where no other feasible one exists, and an amenity and environmental service which is unique.
The inventory of the 5Waters assets owned by Selwyn District Council are shown by the replacement column in Table 1‑2 below. The notable exclusions are land which is valued via the Corporate Asset Plan.
Table
1‑2 Summary of 5Waters Services
Water
| 27
| $94,265,943
| $184,226,000
|
| Wastewater | 14
| $100,487,962
| $311,469,000
|
Stormwater
| 22
| $21,770,018
| $70,207,000
|
| Land Drainage | 10
| $5,150,462
| $45,098,000
|
| Water Races | 3 | $51,918,500
| $117,674,000
|
| Total | 76
| $218,777,373
| $728,674,000
|
A summary of the 5Waters expenditure on operating the 77 schemes is shown below in Figure 1‑1. The 5Waters activity comprises of 21% of the Councils total operating costs projected for the 2021-31 period.
Figure
1‑1 Projected Operating Costs for 2021-31
A summary of the 5Waters expenditure on capital projects across the schemes is shown in Figure 1‑2. The 5Waters activity comprises of 36% of the Councils total capital spend projected for the 2021-31 period.
Figure
1‑2 Projected Capital Spend for 2021-31
A summary of the value of the 5Waters assets is shown below in Figure 1‑3. The 5Waters activity comprises of 46.7% of the Councils total asset value as at 2020.
Figure
1‑3 Infrastructure Asset Value as at 2020
A summary of the expenditure on projects and capital projects is shown below in
Figure 1‑4. Projects are driven by both growth and Levels of Service demands. Capital projects are predominately driven by growth whereas projects are generally driven by level of service, this split is also shown in Figure 1‑4.
Figure
1‑4 Project Works 2018-2028
1.4 5 Waters Level of Service
The community made it clear in 2006 that their top four levels of service were to:
-
Protect their health and property;
- Be
cost-effective;
- Meet reasonable needs; and
- Be fairly priced.
In managing Selwyn's 5Waters, we aspire to provide these services at the level which is sustainable in the long-term with a high level of customer satisfaction. This balance creates tension between the needs of today and the future generations.
1.5 Key Challenges
There are a number of key challenges for asset management within the Selwyn District, these are outlined in Table 1‑3 below. The first three are challenges which are across all the 5Water services, these are followed by challenges which face each of the 5Water services.
Table
1‑3 Key Challenges for Asset Management
| Setting efficient rating levels | Improve asset renewal data quality to an appropriate level; Improve the quality of operations and maintenance projections; and Ensure operational costs are clear before committing to capital works, renewals or modifications.
|
| Changing regulatory requirements | Monitor changes in Iwi and regulatory requirements.
|
Growth
| Undertake master planning and demand management.
|
Water Ensuring Water is Safe to Drink
| Identify source risk areas and mitigate through Water Safety Plans.
Develop efficient & resilient treatment systems
|
Wastewater Alternative Treatment Options
| Remediate Septage disposal sites (these are no longer active); Investigate different treatment options for Upper Selwyn Huts;
Develop best wastewater system for Darfield and allow for growth Move towards resource recovery
|
Water Races Long Term Viability of Schemes Unique ecology in the race network
| Identify (new) customers needs
Assess and value unique race areas
Continue to develop a sustainable funding model
|
Stormwater Urban based improvements | Deliver integrated catchment plans, coordinated resourcing of stormwater system consenting, design and operation. |
Land Drainage Changes in land ownership Intensification of land use and water quality Cost of scheme operation | Better management of schemes via education and partnerships (iwi and Regional Council) Move away from targeted rates to 'one rate' and one district committee
|
1.6 Current Asset Management Performance
The Councils Asset Management Policy sets the appropriate level of asset management practice for delivery of Council's 5Waters, Community Facilities and Transportation services. The 5Waters activity has adopted an 'intermediate' level of asset management practice.
An Asset Management Maturity Assessment and an AcMP Review was undertaken by AECOM in 2021, a summary of the results of this are shown in Figure 1‑5.
Figure 1‑5 Asset Management Maturity 2021
Figure 1‑5 shows that overall the 5Waters activity has achieved an intermediate level of asset management maturity.
An overall comment, describes the results of the 2017 report. A summary of this is provided below:
This is an extremely comprehensive Activity Management Plan comprising approximately 1700 pages across all 6 volumes. The reason for including a large quantity of information in the Activity Management Plan is appreciated and will support the retention of institutional knowledge about the 5 Waters and effective succession planning. Staff of Selwyn District Council are to be commended for the effort that has clearly gone into this AMP.
