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Hot Water

Electricorp Production is to spend more than $24 million over the next three years establishing a water re-injection system for the Wairakei Power Station. This will significantly reduce the levels of toxic pollutants in the Waikato River.

The station draws steam and hot water from the nearby geothermal field, but only the steam is used in power generation. The water is separated and discarded at the wellheads. At Wairakei, this water has been fed into the Wairakei Stream and the Waikato River. It contains a number of naturally toxic chemicals, including boron and arsenic.

A large quantity of this water will now be piped through re-injection wells back into the geothermal reservoir. Special care will be taken to ensure that the water does not cool and subsequently damage the steam field.

"While it must be noted that toxic materials do naturally discharge into the Wairakei Stream and the Waikato River, Electricorp Production acknowledges that it contributes to the problem of water contamination. We are now doing something about the problem," says general manager Dave Frow.