The Spring of Life – Artesian Water at Petone

The hills were somewhere, but very hard to see with the low mist covering everything.  Or was it fog?  It was a bit like living on the Yorkshire moors when we looked out the window.  There it was hovering over the road as we started on our trip down to Petone.

Hovering mist in the valley

As we passed through Silverstream the mist was even lower

Heading south we left the mist behind and arrived at our destination of Petone.  People come from far and wide to partake in Petone’s hidden treasure, taps giving pure artesian water.  Commissioned by the Lower Hutt City Council, Te Puna Wai Ora (The Spring of Life), is the outlet point for pure untreated artesian water which runs down through the Hutt Valley and is pumped up to the surface for anyone to collect. The Sculpture is in two parts, the marker of stacked vessels which is the fountain and a smaller vessel on a base next to it which provides fill up points or water outlets for the public to use. The work is set in a mini park environment, and was designed by Louise Purvis in 2003. 

 

The artesian water originates from the waters of the Hutt River which enter the secure artesian aquifer.  It is naturally filtered through the alluvial gravels and sands over several years before reaching the Petone foreshore.  Today, treated artesian water is supplied to residents of the region.  However, many people travel long distances to Petone to collect pure untreated artesian water Te Puna Wai Ora.

Collecting water to take home

Drinking fountain for the artesian water

There is always a steady stream of people who arrive with water containers to fill.  Guess they think it just tastes better.  An Asian couple were busy filling their many containers while I snapped a few photos.  “You want me to take a photo of you?” the man asked me.  Brrr, it was chilly down at Petone.