OUR WATER
Source
Pine Harbour Water’s supply is sourced from a sustainable aquifer at a depth of 175m. The water originates from a large catchment area starting from the hill country to the southeast. After filtering down through many layers the water forms the aquifer that flows beneath the pick up point then out into the ocean where it peculates up in the Waitemata Harbour. Having taken approx. 170 years to reach us, the water picks up natural minerals, many of which are believed to be beneficial for healthy living.
This geography and sustainably of the resource, well construction and monitoring criteria has allowed our source water to achieve a Category 1 status meaning the quality is unaffected by surface conditions. The purity of the water allows for minimal treatment while still retaining its freshness and integrity.
Sustainability
Pine Harbour Water is aware of its responsibility to this limited resource. The Aquifer the water is drawn from is distinctive in that it is a flowing resource. An analogy would be rather than a finite underground lake the water is flowing like a river from inland to under the pickup point and then discharging out to sea. One key item identified by Taumata Arowai to reduce water wastage is to meter the supply. The use is constantly measured verus the water produced to alert of any leaks, this is currently at best practice of less than 5% loss.
Compliance
Pine Harbour Water complies with Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules (DWQAR) (Taumata Arowai, 2022) as required by the Water Services Act 2021. With a supply population of over 500, Pine Harbour Water falls into the category of a “large networked supply” under the introduced Taumata Arowai 2022 regulations. Although still relatively small, we are subject to the same rules and compliance regime as the biggest suppliers in New Zealand (e.g. Watercare).
Resilience
Pine Harbour Living’s water source is sustainable and we work with the regulators and technical experts ensuring that there is capacity for the planned growth in the region, furthermore as a part of Beachlands and Maraetai area is unreticulated we endevour to ensure that there is capacity to supply the local water tankers, this is part of the areas resilience specifically under is draught conditions as the Watercare tanker filling station is in East Tamaki which affects the amount of trips the local tankers can do in comparison to a local supply. Watercare’s capacity is also constrained in drought events
Peace of Mind
Recent awareness has been raised around high levels of Lead, Nitrates, and E.coli in water supplies at various locations in New Zealand. Fortunately, due to the Class 1 supply (source water type and depth), no old network hardware, and consistent monitoring, it is highly unlikely any of these would be present in Pine Harbour Water. A range of determinants including E Coli, Total Coliforms, Ph, and Free Available Chlorine are tested at regular intervals. Additionally Ph, Free Available Chlorine and turbidity (clarity) levels are monitored continually.
Technical
The GNS certification found the water has a mean residence time of greater than 172 years
Mineral water is further defined in the Australasian Bottled Water Institute Model Code as requiring a level of total dissolved solids of greater than 250 ppm and with no minerals added to such water. Pine Harbour Living is in excess of 300mg/l.
