14 September - A quick update on the wastewater treatment plant
Update on the wastewater treatment plant
During their regular monitoring, the contractor has identified a defect in one of the vertical shaft aerators, which has resulted in the aerator’s performance declining.
The contractor is repairing the aerator this week.
The temporary activated sludge plant is also experiencing some maintenance issues that the team is currently working through. This is having some downstream effects at the digesters and additional load entering Pond 1.
Despite this, our hydrogen sulphide monitors near the ponds continue to only detect very minimal, intermittent levels of H2S, and our residential area monitors are detecting even less.
The warmer temperatures and longer sunlight hours mean the dissolved oxygen levels in the ponds are generally good, and the biological oxygen demand is steadily decreasing.
Independent review
We’re expecting to receive the final version of the independent review into the Council’s response and recovery of the wastewater treatment plant fire in the coming days.
As is the normal process for these types of reports, the review will then need to be reported to the Council’s Executive Leadership Team, and then the elected members, before it’s published.
Elected members will receive the report in the near future.
Latest hydrogen sulphide monitor results
We have strategically set up hydrogen sulphide (H2S) monitors at locations around the oxidation ponds and nearby community. These have been in place since July last year and the results are published weekly on the webpage below.
With the exception of late May-June when the ponds' biology switched from 'summer mode' to 'winter mode' and the disc aerators needed repairing, levels of H2S have remained intermittent, and well below the guideline of 0.03ppm.
It's also worth noting that the H2S readings recorded at Rudds Rd don't correspond with wind direction from the oxidation ponds; this means those readings are coming from elsewhere, and we're continuing to look into this.
Where to get help
If you need health support, we have information available on our website. This includes information on Pegasus Health's Partnership Community Workers and contact numbers for Healthline and counselling services.
Stay updated
We want everyone to be able to stay updated on our response and recovery from the treatment plant fire, and we regularly post new information and reports 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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