Canterbury Groundwater

Pumps

Canterbury Groundwater provides a range of pumping options to suit your site and your needs. We will discuss your requirements and provide a custom-designed system to give you the most efficient, reliable water supply possible for your property.

Depending on your situation and needs – and on factors such as the depth of the water in your well and the rate of flow – different pumps and supporting systems will be appropriate.

Surface pressure systems use centrifugal, self-priming, vertical or horizontal multi-stage pumps, with either single-phase or 3-phase electric motors. To ensure steady, reliable flow, control options could be a pressure tank, an Autoflow control system, or a Variable speed control system.

If the water resources in your well are at deeper levels, a submersible borehole pump may be most suitable. These stainless steel pumps are often used to bring water up to an above-ground storage tank.

A wide range of specialised pumps are available for particular needs, including drainage pumps and effluent pumps.

SERVICING & REPAIR

If any problems arise with your pump, Canterbury Groundwater can diagnose the difficulties and either repair them on-site or, if necessary, bring the pump back to our workshop. Temporary arrangements may be organised to ensure you have water while your pump is being attended to.

We also provide a regular maintenance service to keep your pump and filtration systems in optimum working order.

Filters

We are blessed in most parts of Canterbury with abundant underground water. In some areas, however, there are contaminants that can affect your water supply. Furthermore, since September 2010 and the Canterbury earthquakes, underground systems have suffered major disruptions that have compromised water quality in many areas. Water that was previously clear may have been adversely affected.

Canterbury Groundwater can arrange laboratory testing and sort out the filtration systems required to treat your water and make it safe.

PROBLEMS

The kinds of nasties that can be found in some Canterbury water include:

Biological organisms – most commonly E coli, an anaerobic bacterium that can cause serious infections, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Heavy metals such as iron, which can cause brown staining on laundry and bathroom fixtures, and give an unpleasant odour and metallic taste to foods and drinks prepared with the contaminated water. Manganese, which is related to iron, is a significant health issue at levels over 0.4 ppm.
Other elements such as Arsenic and Nitrates. Medical studies have linked arsenic contamination to cancer and a range of other diseases.

WATER TESTS

The first step to solving such problems is to get a water test. Canterbury Groundwater provides a range of testing services to determine exactly what’s in your water. We take a sample in a special kit, and send it off to the laboratory for analysis. Tests include:

Drinking Water Test: for compliance with the NZ Drinking Water Standards.
Microbiological Test: for compliance with Local Authority Building Code.
Gas Appliance Test: for compliance with manufacturers’ minimum acidity levels for gas hot water appliances.

We then provide you with a full report detailing the filtration systems that will be necessary to make your water compliant to the relevant standards.

Water tests are also an official requirement for getting approval of building consents with your local council.

UV sterilisation system installed in pump shed

FILTRATION SYSTEMS

Depending on the problems with your water, a range of technologies are available.

UV sterilisation to kill bacteria – especially for supplies from rainwater or natural creeks and open springs where the water source is open to contamination from wildlife and organic matter.


Sediment filters – screen, disc or cartridge. These remove sand, grit and small debris that may damage filtration equipment or household plumbing and appliances.	pH correction – a neutralising filter to correct high acidity in water.	Resin bed water softeners for removing iron and manganese.	Reverse osmosis – under bench unit for removal of nitrates, arsenic and similar toxins.

Servicing & Maintenance

Every system needs regular maintenance to keep things in good working order. Canterbury Groundwater provides regular servicing for your pumps and filtration systems to ensure peak performance of your equipment and avoid problems developing.

We supply a wide range of filter cartridges, replacement filtration media, salt, replacement UV bulbs, and all the necessary products to keep your water system at its best. Just call in to our premises at 187E Ohoka Road, Kaiapoi (behind the Zed station on the roundabout).


Filter cartridges	Filter discs	Salt	Akdolit medium	Citric acid

Pre-purchase System Evaluations

Moving to the country? Looking for that perfect North Canterbury property for your new lifestyle? Before you commit to buying a property, you need to be confident about the water supply system.

Canterbury Groundwater provides a completely impartial evaluation service for clients considering the purchase of a rural property. This can include:
•   Identifying and assessing the well or wells on site
•   Testing water flow rates
•   Getting a laboratory analysis of the water to check quality
•   Reviewing any existing pumps and filtration equipment, and
•   Outlining any recommended alternatives or improvements.

In some cases, historical information about the site and its wells and water resources may be relevant.

A detailed report is provided, so that you can proceed with negotiating your purchase with all the knowledge you need.

Sewerage & Wastewater

Canterbury Groundwater recommends a state-of-the-art system from US company Orenco as a reliable solution to rural properties’ sewerage and wastewater disposal requirements.

The Orenco Advantex ® AX20 system uses a watertight fibreglass tank filled with a lightweight engineered textile material for biological breakdown of wastewater components. The innovative design and technologies of this system give a significant reduction in ongoing maintenance and servicing costs.

The system is compliant with Environment Canterbury Regional Council regulations.