Maungaturotos Wastewater Upgrade Complete

The crucial upgrade of Maungaturoto’s Wastewater Treatment System is now complete, much to the delight of all involved in the project.

“It is great to have such a cutting-edge wastewater system operational”, says Kaipara District Council’s Wastewater Portfolio holder Councillor Graham Taylor.

“The quality of the discharge will be excellent thanks to the high-tech membrane filtration plant at the centre of the upgrade, and the system will meet all consent conditions into the foreseeable future.”

Local company Harrison Contracting has been onsite since late 2008, undertaking the civil works for the new treatment system.

“Everyone involved has put in some great effort to get the system up and running, and the community should be proud of the support it has shown”, says Mr Taylor

“I would especially like to express gratitude to the Maungaturoto Country Club who have allowed us access to the site as well as letting us purchase the land needed for the project.”

The membrane filtration plant which treats the wastewater right down to bacteria level, resulting such a superb standard of discharge, will be tested and monitored by its manufacturers Canadian Pacific Limited for two months to ensure it is in top working condition, before the Kaipara District Council officially takes over its ownership and operation.

It is expected that the new system will discharge less than 200 Fc/100 millilitres into the Wairau River, a huge improvement on the old system which could discharge between 30,000 and 70,000 Fc/100 millilitres.

The system’s new 600 m3 storage pond will allow the highly treated wastewater to be discharged with the tides, and the old oxidation pond has been extended and elevated to reduce the risk of spillage and run-over during major storms.

“All this results in cleaner waterways and improved water quality, and helps to ensure the future health of the river and harbour,” says Mr Taylor

“The system is future-proofed to expand as the Maungaturoto grows, and will serve the needs of the community and the environment for years to come.”