Our goal is to use 50% less water than similar facilities, and we will reduce our wastewater levels as well by thoroughly treating grey and black water on site so it can be reused for irrigation.
Accommodation facilities typically have high water consumption and predictable highs and lows in water use throughout the day. At Camp Glenorchy we are incorporating a number of water saving strategies to meet our water targets and better manage the way water is used across the whole site.
All of the different water supplies throughout the site are separately metered to allow us to monitor our water use.
Living in harmony with the surrounding environment means we need to consider our overall impact on Glenorchy’s groundwater reserves. Rainwater capture, and the mindful use, storage, reuse and disposal of water will help us meet our objectives and preserve precious natural resources. We will manage our stormwater impacts by using permeable hard landscaping and driveways, swales and rain gardens around the perimeter of the site. Soak pits will help absorb and handle the discharge of any excess stormwater back to the natural water table.
Rainwater will be collected from all roofs and stored in underground tanks. It will then be treated through natural processes to drinking-water quality standards and be routed to sinks, handwashing basins and showers throughout the site. Water from municipal supplies will only be used when rainwater tanks are low.
Low flow fittings and water-efficient appliances will be installed throughout the site, minimising the water used by taps, showers, dishwashers and washing machines. There will also be timed showers in the public bathrooms.
Native and drought-tolerant plants will be used throughout the site landscaping to reduce water required for irrigation, a crucial factor in achieving our 50% water conservation target.
Odour-free, waterless composting toilets will be installed in all new buildings to be used by both guests and staff. In addition to significantly reducing the need for flushing, this well-tested and proven design will generate nutrient-rich compost for our native plants instead of entering the municipal sewage system as black water.
Blackwater (wastewater from all sinks and dishwashers within the common building kitchens, and the liquid from the composting toilets) will be treated using an innovative aeration system to a level of purity that can be safely released into the ground.
By treating wastewater before it is released to the ground, we mitigate risks to Glenorchy’s groundwater reserves.
Wastewater from bathroom sinks, showers, and washing machines will be treated on-site using a constructed greywater wetland system. These wetlands harness the natural functions of certain types of plants and micro-organisms that treat wastewater without chemicals, removing sediment and pollutants without being piped to a sewage centre for treatment.
Following treatment, water will be diverted to an underground storage tank for use in irrigating the gardens and orchards.
Take the world's most beautiful 40-minute drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy, along the shores of Lake Wakatipu
+64 (0)3 409 0401 or 0800 GY CAMP (0800 492 267)Call 03 409 0051
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