Tauranga’s treatment plants: behind the scenes

The Chapel Street wastewater treatment plant.

Ever wondered how your drinking water is treated, or what happens to your wastewater after you flush the toilet or do the dishes?

Tauranga City Council is opening the doors to the Oropi water treatment plant and Chapel Street wastewater treatment plant for a behind-the-scenes look at how your drinking water is treated, and the journey your wastewater takes once it reaches the plant.


Tours will be held at each location from 9am to 2.15pm on Friday, 26 and Saturday, 27 October, and will take around one-and-a-quarter hours for each tour.

Environment Committee Chair Steve Morris says the tours would provide a fascinating insight into highly technical processes.

'Water – where it comes from, how we treat it and where it goes once we're done with it – is central to our lives, but often something we take for granted.

'These tours will help people learn about the journey our water takes to get to our taps, and where their wastewater goes every time they flush the toilet, put on a load of washing or have a shower.”

Participants need to be able to climb stairs, and deal with heights and some uneven surfaces. The tour is not suitable for prams, wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

Anyone interested will also need to wear appropriate clothing and closed, flat shoes (no high heels or jandals) – or risk not being allowed to join the tour.

Children over the age of eight are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult, with no more than two children per adult.

For health reasons, if you have had vomiting or diarrhea in the three days before the tour, you will be unable to attend the Oropi water treatment plant open day.

For more information, and to reserve your place, visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/plant-opendays

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