• Client: Taranaki District Council
• Year: 2013

The contract was for the upgrade of the Eltham Water Treatment Plant to comply with Drinking Water Standards of New Zealand 2005.   The upgrade, partly, involved installing a new clarifier upstream of the filters and other upgrade works to the plant.  SEL was sub-contracted to Whittaker Civil Engineering, who completed the civil works on-site.

SEL completed the structural and mechanical work, including: upgrading the chlorine room and fabricating and installing a complete mechanical system for the clarifier and flocculation tower.   Service Engineers was also responsible for gantries, ladders, platforms and steel staircases along with stainless steel fabrication works: including the fabrication, installation and testing of a stainless steel caustic storage tank and stainless steel pipework for the filters. SEL also had to supply and install a PE tank, and complete the tie-in to the existing pipework.

This was a very complicated project from a planning perspective; having to work within a live plant environment posed challenges to both contractors and the existing operators.  Plant shut downs had to take place to install new plant, whilst ensuring a less than minor effect was felt on the running and efficiency of the WTP.