Te Mato Vai

While the Te Mato Vai project isn't quite completed yet, we would like to take a moment to recognise the landowners for their contribution and support so far in the commissioning of the new water intake infrastructure at Papua!

Thanks Cook Islands News for coming along and sharing some great photos!

Major water infrastructure project ‘completed’ - Cook Islands News The Rarotonga water project, Te Mato Vai, dubbed the largest infrastructure project in the history of the nation, was completed yesterday at the official landowners recognition ceremony of the Papua intake in Vaimaanga.

Today we recognised the significant contributions of the Papua intake landowners to the Te Mato Vai project.

It was fantastic to have High Commissioner Tui Dewes, First Secretary Okesene Moananu, and Senior Development Programme Coordinator Andreas Demmke with us to represent New Zealand's contribution as a funding partner.

Over the coming weeks we will be hosting ceremonies at each of the intakes to recognise all intake landowners and their contribution to helping deliver safer and more reliable water to the people of Rarotonga.

From over 10,000 tests taken, the data collected tells us that PACl has made a huge difference in improving our water quality.

So is PACl sludge toxic? The short and scientific answer is no. PACl sludge is safe and not a health risk for our people or the environment.

Does that mean we can use PACl sludge for growing crops? Yes, with the addition of some fertiliser.

Read the article below to find out more!

To Tatou Vai has made amendments to its To Tatou Vai Amendment Bill 2020 draft.

To read the Bill, simply click the link below: 👇
https://parliament.gov.ck/featured/to-tatou-vai-bill-2020-with-final-amendments/

As part of the PACl trials currently underway, some landowners asked us if they could keep the PACl sludge produced on their land for their own purposes, such as use in their gardens.

We have conducted preliminary tests to understand the composition of the PACl sludge and whether it would be suitable for use on the land.

Our initial results are looking positive – with some management, PACl sludge can potentially be used locally in the garden to grow crops.

Right now we’re doing more testing to better understand the soil in Rarotonga and confirm PACl sludge is safe to use. Once we have the results we will share this with landowners and the public.

The potential for PACl sludge use As part of the Polyaluminium Chloride (PACl) trial currently underway several landowners approached the Te Mato Vai (TMV) Project Management Unit (PMU) about the possibility of reusing the PACl sludge generated on their land for their own purposes, such as use in their gardens. Initially PACl sludge...