For example, one gallon of waste water contains enough energy to power a 100 watt light for five minutes.
Treatment technologies for removing the harmful components of wastewater have become increasingly effective and on close examination wastewater is actually a mixed stream of raw materials from previous industrial or domestic activities which can be utilised in different ways.
These include the production of electricity, biofuels, gas, compost, fertiliser, solid fuel, paving, water for irrigation or ground water replenishment and so forth.
A plant producing renewable energy could be run as a profitable business bringing strong returns to the district and advantages to the environment.
In an energy hungry world our present practice is hugely wasteful and in a world where restrictions on pollution are becoming more stringent and more necessary, the status quo in Hawke Bay will become increasingly unacceptable.
We have no time to waste to find our own alternatives.
Liz Earth, Te Awanga
Quake connection
About the broken Maui gas pipeline that caused so much trouble and money - is it purely coincidental, or not, that the problem was noticed less than two days after a shallow earthquake struck Taranaki, the epicentre of which was not too far from the fractured pipeline?
To date, I've not read or heard anyone suggest that there is a connection between the two events, but, in our shaky isles, perhaps we shouldn't ignore the possibility that Mother Nature has taken another swing at us.
Garry Whincop, Greenmeadows
Rates warning
Those who want Hawke's Bay's territorial authorities to amalgamate should know that the merged Auckland councils brought higher rates. This year's Auckland rates demands combined local and regional council rates and added the GST increase. Next year's rates, according to the Auckland council's draft 10-year plan released by mayor Len Brown last week, proposes a 3.5 per cent rates hike plus a $350 extra "flat charge". The plan predicts subsequent bigger increases. Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule, who is driving the amalgamation roadshow, has a big-spending agenda. The Hastings District Council has a substantial debt that Napier does not want to take on.
The one-page "abetterhawkesbay" adverts promise better social and economic services (spend more money) while reducing the cost of local government. You can't have it both ways.
If Hawke's Bay's territorial authorities returned to their core responsibilities - sewage, rubbish, water, parks, and urban roads - we would have a smaller, less costly, and more efficient local government which could be achieved without any amalgamation.
The "abetterhawkesbay" adverts assume that an amalgamated council would build the local economy, when there is more evidence to suggest that smaller, better-focused councils would remove impediments to growth.
Mike Butler, Hastings
HNZ shelter
I am writing in reply to the excellent article by Mark Story in the HB Today of Friday, October 28. I agree with every word of this article, as this seems to be HNZ/Government policy to mainstream these mentally disturbed people, or "unruly criminals" in HNZ properties.
Firstly, this situation could be resolved by the Government re-opening the sheltered workshops that this country had.
As I recall, it was the National Government of the day that closed these institutions, and tried to mainstream the folk who, through no fault of their own, just cannot cope with the outside world.
The ordinary NZ person, whilst of a compassionate nature, is not equipped to cope with these mentally disturbed people, or "unruly criminals" in their midst. I live in a HNZ complex and have health problems, so that all I want is quiet enjoyment of my unit, which is what most HNZ tenants want. This is set out in our HNZ contract.
Also I might add, that the cost of repairing the damage these unfortunate folk cause is borne by the taxpayer. I do not need to be woken by noisy folk, who are drunk or drugged, creating mayhem. If the disturbed and unruly folk were monitored, which to my knowledge they are not, this policy may work.
The policy now in force is not working. HNZ is not wholly to blame, as they are only following policy. I hope that the in-coming Government opens up the sheltered workshops and homes for these folk, so that I and Mr Grant, along with the bulk of HNZ tenants, can enjoy our homes. After all, most HNZ tenants are just ordinary folk, but unfortunately we get tarred with the same brush as the minority.
Trevor Douglas Wakely, Napier
