Council clarifies discharge issues

The Palmerston North City Council would like to clarify some of the issues being reported on the recent non-compliance report issued by Horizons on the Palmerston North Waste Water Treatment Plant.

It is important to note that in this latest assessment, the Council has fully complied with 26 of the 29 conditions of its consent and that all conditions relating to the physical discharge of treated waste water in to the river have been complied with.

There are three conditions in the most recent assessment which Horizons have assessed the Council as non-compliant. Two of these relate to monitoring bores within the Waste Water Treatment Plant’s ponds. Designed to monitor ground water conditions, the ground water levels have dropped below the bottom of the bores and remedial action is required. The Council is undertaking work to drill the bores deeper to ensure it continues to adequately monitor ground water levels and monitors all contaminants listed in the consent.

The third non-compliance was for “significant adverse effect on aquatic life”. In light of the fact that the treated waste water being discharged in to the river is fully compliant with consent standards, the Council has questioned the basis of this assessment and has sought further information from Horizons about this issue.

Palmerston North’s Mayor, Jono Naylor, says the Council is committed to working with Horizons Regional Council to ensure the treatment plant operates within the consent conditions.

“We take our responsibilities to the Manawatu River very seriously, and while it’s really encouraging that our discharge meets the required standards – we’re concerned that Horizons has found a significant adverse effect on aquatic life. We need to understand what’s been measured, how it’s been measured, and if it is linked to the Council’s discharge.”

The Council spent $15.5million upgrading its Waste Water Treatment Plant to treat waste with Ultra Violet to kill most harmful bacteria, as well as removing phosphorous, a nutrient which causes algal growth. The upgraded treatment plant has been fully operating since November 2008.