Gore’s water supply is now fully treated at the East Gore Water Treatment Plant, delivering cleaner, safer drinking water to the community. The Gore District Council announced the completion of the centralised water treatment project, which finished on time and under budget despite being a technically challenging task.
The project involved connecting both Coopers Well and Jacobstown borefields to the East Gore facility. This upgrade means all water for Gore now goes through one plant, improving overall quality and safety. It also brings long-term cost savings by removing the need for separate treatment systems.
Mayor Ben Bell said the project was a high-risk, high-reward investment. “Access to safe drinking water is essential for our community. Completing this project on time and under budget, while managing its technical complexity, shows Council’s commitment to investing responsibly in critical infrastructure that protects the health and wellbeing of our residents now and into the future.” He added, “Many things could have gone wrong and there was potential for budget blowouts. The fact that the project has been delivered under budget is a real credit to Council staff and everyone involved.”
Jason Domigan, General Manager of Critical Services, said the new connection offers more flexibility in managing issues like rising nitrate levels. “The importance of supplying groundwater from two borefields means we can better manage challenges like rising nitrate levels. The Jacobstown well has significantly lower nitrate concentrations, so blending its water with Coopers Well supply helps keep levels safe for our community.”
Previously, nitrate levels at Coopers Well had risen beyond acceptable levels, triggering a precautionary “Do Not Drink” notice. During that time, the Council had to rely on river water from the Mataura River to dilute the supply—an approach that came with challenges due to debris during floods. “We now have a broader mitigation toolkit in place, including real-time monitoring, buffer zones, and land safeguards. Centralising treatment at East Gore is a key part of future-proofing our water supply,” said Mr Domigan.
Water from both bores now flows through one plant, cutting operational costs while ensuring compliance with national drinking water standards.
Aaron Green, Council’s Three Waters Operations Manager, highlighted the complexity of drilling two pipes beneath the Mataura River. “This work was completed without interrupting the town’s water supply, thanks to precise engineering and strict operational controls.”
Now, both Gore and Mataura water supplies meet the protozoa compliance standards required by Taumata Arowai, the national drinking water regulator.
Council acknowledged the patience of residents and thanked staff, contractors and partners for making the milestone possible.