Wastewater treatment plant - sludge options being evaluated

Published on 16 December 2014

16 December 2014

Mayor Annette Main today said work is under way to evaluate sludge management options for the new wastewater treatment plant.

“Our team met with our engineering partners Cardno BTO in Wellington on Friday,” Mayor Main said.

“They have reported back that it was a highly productive meeting and that they and Cardno will commence a schedule of work to determine the viability of a number of sludge management options which are available.

“Some of the options show real promise; however, we are all agreed that we must get this right for the community including ratepayers and commercial and industrial users of the eventual system. The evaluation of each option as presented includes verification of a number of variables and our team and Cardno will be working together to verify viability of each sludge management approach. They will report back to Council in the new year.

“Sludge is a by-product of all waste treatment systems and, because of our unique loads and flows, we require a solution which is unique to us but one that is also cost effective. Our team and Cardno understand this and I am confident that the collective expertise and experience being applied to this challenge will ensure the council has the right level of information it needs to make the right decisions going forward.”