Big upgrade for city sewerage network | Northland News | Local News in Northland

Whangarei District Council is spending more than $13 million upgrading its city sewerage system over the next 18 months to reduce the risk of sewage spills into Whangarei Harbour.

It's also planning to spend at least another $12.8 million after that.

The council says the planned improvements will "greatly reduce the likelihood of harbour closures as a result of wastewater discharges".

Work under way or planned includes:

Stage 1:

- Upgrade of the Okara Park pump station and installation of new rising main - completed June 2010, at a cost of $4.5m.

- Installation of a 1,000,000 litre storage tank and treatment system to prevent sewage discharge from the Hatea sewage pumping station - due for completion early January 2012, at a cost of $5m.

- Whangarei Wastewater Treatment Plant - disinfection of all wastewater discharges. A feasibility study has been done and council is working with NRC to finalise the discharge standard. Works are expected to start early in 2012.

- Household inflow (gully trap) inspections - 2800 properties have been inspected this year; 180 homeowners are undertaking remedial works.

- Investigation into alternative sewer technologies.

Stage 2:

- Refinement of council's sewer network model.

- Options include new larger pipes, new pump stations and/or further storage, and treatment units such as the one being installed at the Hatea pump station.

- Works scheduled for 2013-2017 will be developed in line with the long-term planning process - in other words, consultation on new work will be done at the time of the 2012-2022 Long Term Plan.

In addition, WDC has also developed the way it manages wastewater and has:

- Revamped its website, which now provides general wastewater information and regular updates on sewage spills and upgrade projects.

- Employed a customer relations officer in the waste and drainage division to help the flow of information.

- Obtained accreditation for its wastewater management system under a national quality management system.

- Facilitated a community wastewater interest group to discuss wastewater and harbour water quality issues.

- Revised its contracting arrangements for the network's operation to provide better value, security and response.

- Installed a new radio network so that all its pump stations can be remotely monitored, reducing the risk of spills.