An update on everything happening at the plant
Thursday 21 May
Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant update
Construction update – Activated sludge reactor
Another key construction milestone is getting underway, with excavation and preparation for the installation of the new pipeline beginning this week.
Work on the stone columns is progressing. Installation has been slightly slower over the past week as we complete boreholes across the construction area. These are an important part of our final testing process to confirm the quality and performance of the installed columns.
To date, approximately 655 of the planned 1600 stone columns have been installed.
Aerator update
Planning is well underway to finalise the positioning of the new aerators across the ponds, with a strong focus on achieving the best possible efficiency.
We’re on track to have the first aerators installed and operating in mid June. For a start these will run on generators while we continue to progress the supporting infrastructure.
Once all aerators are in place and performing well, we’ll begin some critical maintenance work on the treatment plant’s clarifiers.
In addition, there are stages of the new activated sludge reactor construction that will require parts of the treatment process to be temporarily taken offline. The additional aeration capacity in the ponds will help keep the treatment system stable during these periods.
We’re also carrying out some construction work within the ponds to support future flow changes. This will help maximise the effectiveness of the aerators.
A word from Gary
I wanted to share a quick update on what I’ve been up to recently and some upcoming opportunities to connect.
It was great to attend the transport engagement meeting at Bayswater Reserve on Sunday – thank you to everyone who came along and took the time to catch up with me. I really value those conversations.
On Tuesday evening, I also attended the Organics Processing Plant meeting, where I had another good opportunity to meet and talk with local residents.
Over the past week, I’ve visited a number of immediate neighbours on Shortland Street. These discussions have been focused on next steps at the plant and what they can expect in terms of impacts, and I appreciate the open and constructive conversations.
Looking ahead, we’ll be sending out an invitation in early June for a wider community meeting. This will be a chance for the project team to share an update on rebuild progress. We’re currently planning for the evening of 17 June but haven’t yet confirmed this, so please keep an eye out for more details.
In the meantime, community member Rebecca Robin is running weekly community drop-in sessions at the Bromley Community Centre every Thursday from 11am to 1pm, through until 4 July. I’ll be there as well, so feel free to come along if you have any questions or would like to chat.
Pond health, odour and what to expect this weekend
The ponds are continuing to transition steadily into winter conditions, with overall performance remaining stable. Algae levels are currently a little higher than typically expected for this time of year, and our team is keeping a close watch and monitoring conditions carefully.
To help the ponds stay in the best possible shape staff are actively balancing flows between the ponds, directing more flow to those that are performing most effectively at any given time.
What to expect this weekend
The forecast is relatively stable over the weekend and we don't expect a significant increase in odour. While the pond transition continues there is an increased chance of short term odour spikes.
Stay updated
We want everyone to be able to stay updated on what's happening at the Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant, and we regularly post new information on ccc.govt.nz/wastewaterfire
You're welcome to send this update to your networks. If you know someone in the community who doesn’t have email or internet access, please print this newsletter off and pass it to them.
If you know of anyone who would like to receive this e-newsletter they can subscribe online.
If you have any questions, or would like further information on the project, please call us on 03 941 8999 or 0800 800 169 or email wastewater@ccc.govt.nz
Thanks for your patience and understanding. We’ll be in touch again soon.
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