More houses stop using chemical toilets

A further 7000 houses in the worst-affected areas of the city have so far this week been told they no longer need to use their chemical toilets

Around 30,000 chemical toilets were distributed to the worst-affected areas of the city after the 22 February earthquake, where sewers were damaged and/or were full of silt. This distribution area can be viewed here. People were asked to use the toilets as the sewers in their area were not functioning.

Clearing of silt and sand from the underground pipes has progressed well and, from last week, the Christchurch City Council started telling people property-by-property when they no longer needed to use their chemical toilet. Areas contacted over the past week are: Waimairi Beach, Queenspark, St Albans/Shirley/Westhaven and North New Brighton.

Council Water and Waste Unit Manager Mark Christison said people who had received a notice in their letterbox telling them they could start using their household toilet had welcomed the news.

“The key now is to release as many houses in the chemical toilet distribution area as quickly as possible. We have dropped notices to a further 7000 homes so far this week, and will continue to do this in areas where the sewers have been cleared,” Mr Christison says.

Only people who receive a flyer in their letterbox directly should stop using their chemical toilets. There may be a small number of properties within each area that is released that should continue using their chemical toilet – these homes will not receive a letterbox notice and this is clearly shown on a map on the back of each area notice.

Mr Christison says it is important that when residents start using their household toilets again, that they carefully check their property to ensure the wastewater is draining away. Residents can keep their chemical toilet and any spare chemicals handy, in case of any aftershocks or should wet weather cause further problems to the system.

All Christchurch residents – including those in suburbs not as badly affected by the quake – are required to continue conserving water to reduce pressure on the system. A city-wide ban on watering the garden remains in place; other outdoor water use is allowed.

“It is important to us to restore water and waste services to homes as quickly as possible. I understand that the past two months have been difficult for people living in the worst-affected areas and I would like to thank everyone for their patience. The sewer network in this area was badly clogged with silt and sand and was in a fragile state.

“Please know that your efforts have helped ease the pressure on our damaged sewer network while the system was cleared of sand and silt. This is a major step forward in returning sewerage services and the city is also identifying sewers that need repair and replacement. To completely repair sewers to their pre-September 2010 condition is going to take several years.”