In 2019, Huka Lodge began a project to secure water quality for the long term and improve sustainability of use. It invested NZ$70k in a detailed study of consumption, fitting meters and telemetry to adjust flows in real time.
Raw water operations were transferred to a local “Water Group”, enabling monitoring and leak detection. NZ$90k was invested in combined UV, activated carbon, and osmosis purification, ensuring the restaurant’s home-produced, carbonated water could match any bottled brand. In addition, a NZ$450k, state-of-the-art, wastewater plant was installed; its high-quality output is used for irrigation – further reducing the need to draw from the Waikato and eliminating any risk of potential effluent pollution. The success has been a team effort, with the combined effect of better practices (less running of water for cooling in the kitchen, for example) and capital investment reducing overall water consumption by about 25%.
