Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant update

Friday 27 February

What to expect this weekend 

The condition of the ponds is much the same as yesterday and we expect spikes of stench will continue over the weekend. These will vary depending on the weather, especially wind direction, and it may affect different areas at different times.

Abatement notice from Environment Canterbury 

We have received an abatement notice from Environment Canterbury in relation to odour from the Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant. We have been working closely with Environment Canterbury over recent months, keeping them informed of the steps we are taking to address odour, including through our Odour Mitigation Plan and the daily monitoring and operational improvements underway at the ponds.

In simple terms, the notice states that the plant is currently breaching its resource consent because odour is travelling beyond the boundary of the treatment plant and oxidation ponds. Under the notice, we are required to provide Environment Canterbury with a comprehensive management plan outlining how we will meet consent conditions, including monitoring processes, standard operating procedures, and contingency actions to minimise odour risk. This must be submitted by 16 March.

We take this notice seriously. Addressing odour remains a top priority and we are committed to doing everything we can to reduce impacts on the community. We will continue to keep the community and Environment Canterbury updated as this work progresses.

Learn more about the abatement notice on Environment Canterbury's website.

When we’ll be in touch again

We'll be in touch again via this newsletter on Tuesday. It is likely odour will fluctuate between now and then, and we have teams working at the plant and ponds everyday doing what they can to address the stench. 

Activated sludge reactor piling installation about to start 

We’ve almost finished the process of removing excess soil and other material from the site for the first stage. This has created the platform for installation of the the stone column piles, which will form the foundations of the new activated sludge reactor.

Our work programme over the coming months will involve installation of sheet piles and the stone column piles.

There may be some noise and vibration caused by this work. To try and mitigate the effects of this, we will be closely monitoring the impacts over the next two weeks to see whether any adjustments are needed.  

During the week beginning Monday 2 March, we’ll start installing sheet piles (sections of steel or concrete) to enable ground improvements near the existing plant buildings.

Then in the week beginning Monday 9 March, we will install some test stone column piles in the main area of the work. This work will take approximately three days, during which we will actively monitor the noise and vibration and make adjustments as necessary.

The main ground improvements will start in early April, as we begin installing the remainder of the stone column piles. This work will continue into the winter months.

We're delivering letters to properties neighbouring the plant. These include contact details for the contractor and project manager, who you can get in touch with if you have questions about the work. 

Smelt it? Log it.

If you notice an odour, the best way to report it is by visiting smelt-it.web.app and logging what you’re experiencing – including location and strength. These reports help us build a fuller, more accurate picture of what’s happening across the community, so we can continue working to improve conditions.

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.