A remarkable show of community spirit and collaboration has significantly improved Hāwera Hospital’s potable water capacity. The hospital had been relying on a single 6,000-litre tank for its potable water, well short of the 10,000 litres required daily for essential operations.
Several local businesses installed two new 25,000-litre water tanks on site. Not only did the team of local tradespeople and suppliers generously donate their time, equipment and resources, but hugely drove down the overall cost.
The project should have costed $45,000 but ended up costing under $5,000 total. Now, with a total capacity of 56,000 litres, the hospital is far better equipped to manage day-to-day water use with a surplus for emergencies.
The initiative which was sparked by a conversation about the hospital’s ageing water supply, was spearheaded by Ben Annabell of Recharge and Taranaki Health Foundation General Manager Adrian Sole.
Annabell, with a plumbing background and connections, quickly rallied support from within the local business community to bring the best people together.
Mico Plumbing worked with Devan Plastics to supply the two 25,000-litre, heavy-duty water tanks. One was supplied free of charge, and the other was at cost. Mico also supplied the firefighting fixtures required for installation, worth $1,900. Doug-Out Earthmoving provided the essential groundwork to provide a solid foundation for the tanks to sit on.
Houghton's Plumbing designed the plumbing system and connected the new tanks to the existing system, which they originally installed in 2001. Robin Houghton said it is a privilege to give back to the community with this project. It brings immense pride for him and his team.
Enhancing a vital asset
“This project had a real community feel about it,” Ben Annabell says. “Hāwera Hospital is such a vital asset for South Taranaki, everyone involved was more than happy to do what they could to help.”
The result is not only a significantly larger water reserve that now circulates throughout the hospital, but also additional emergency resilience. The new system includes a fire hose connection, offering added support to the fire service if needed.
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Hāwera Hospital Manager Stephanie Besseling expressed her gratitude:
“Having safe, drinkable water is vital for our hospital,” Besseling says. “This amazing team of people coming together to increase our capacity so significantly is fantastic. It means we can continue running a successful hospital without worrying about running out of water.”
The Taranaki Health Foundation would like to extend our appreciation to everyone involved in this project. Local businesses coming together for the greater good is a testament to the pride people feel in this region and is something that drives the Taranaki Health Foundation to continuously provide healthcare enhancements where we can.