Waste-water working group considers report and options
Public appointees Haley Gale and Barry Cashman are included in the working group that is deliberating on the improvements to Takaka’s waste-water treatment plant. The group held its first full meeting on 21 March.
The meeting considered the feedback received already regarding the scheme upgrade, possible options for the management of waste water for the community, and the issues affecting the decision-making on the future of the scheme. The submissions make it clear that odour, possible contamination, sustainability and location were some of the key issues.
Working group chair, councillor Martine Bouillir, said that in reviewing the feedback it had been apparent there were a number of misconceptions regarding the current practice, the site and the proposed upgrade.
“The treatment plant manages all waste water, not just sewage. Waste water, including kitchen, bathroom and laundry water as well as commercial liquid waste is treated at the plant. Composting toilets and individual septic schemes will address sewage management for individual premises, but there ‘s still a need to manage other waste water.”
There is no need to build further sewerage ponds on the new site, said Cr Bouillir.
The upgrade requires the construction of three infiltration beds to assist the dispersal of the treated waste water. Also, a small aeration pond will be built within the bounds of the current site to improve the efficiency of the current treatment process. Noiseless aerators will manage the aeration of this pond.
Cr Bouillir referred to a recent NIWA groundwater flow report on the site.
“It showed that the treated waste water flows away from the urban area in a north-northwesterly direction, so the treated water will not affect any private bore groundwater. The same report showed that the water in the Takaka River below the treatment plant is actually cleaner than it is above the plant. This is directly related to the operation of the treatment plant.”
There is a government subsidy for the upgrade on the grounds of public health, but a community decision is needed by 30 June 2011.
“There will not be increased noise because the upgrade is focused on the construction of improved filtration of treated waste water into the ground. Also odour will be managed as it is done in the two similar schemes in Motueka and Tapawera. There are more carbon filters in the reticulation system. The proposed system is being trialled in Motueka and has been in place in Tapawera for some time with no odorous effects. The working party is going to visit working models of the proposed upgrade as part of the information-gathering exercise.”
A number of suggestions have been provided as possible solutions to the problems faced by the present treatment plant. These include geotubes, composting toilets, wetlands, biolytics and worm systems.
“The full ramifications and costings of each of these suggestions will be identified. Council officers and consultants will explore this information to ensure the working party can discuss them in depth at its next meeting.”
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