Treatment plant holds another open day

About 150 people took the opportunity last weekend to see just what their rates are paying for at the city’s new wastewater treatment plant.

Gisborne District Council wastewater team leader Helen Churton hopes that many more will take the same chance at the open day this Saturday, 2 April, between 10am and 2pm.

“We had a wide range of people tour the Banks Street plant last Saturday. They were interested and curious about what happened to their wastewater, and, in particular, how the biological trickling filter works.”

Visitors are guided by Council staff through each part of the facility including the pre-treatment room where the milliscreens screen out the solids from the wastewater, the control room, pump stations, odour beds and the biological trickling filter tank where the remaining fine wastewater solids are converted to plant-like matter in a process known as biotransformation.

“People were generally impressed that there was little odour at all from inside the trickling filter tank compared to within the pre-treatment room. People are interested in the cost of the plant, how it is being paid for and the difference it is already making to our ocean.”

She encouraged people to visit the plant this Saturday and advised of the need to wear sensible, closed shoes. The tour is more suitable for over-12 year olds.

The Banks Street treatment plant is one component in the $39.5 million Gisborne Wastewater Project, Gisborne District Council’s largest-ever capital project.

If people are unable to make the open day this week, there will be other opportunities for groups to have guided tours. Please contact Council’s Customer Services for more information.