‘Watching and waiting’ for wastewater plant repairs

ELISE VOLLWEILER

The Tasman District Council is still in “waiting and watching” mode with regards to its beleaguered Motueka wastewater treatment plant, with no definite time frames available for its repair.

A rāhui remains in place on the coastal area surrounding the Motueka River mouth, with the council advising people  in the area to continue avoiding contact with the water.

Several of the plant’s filtration membranes began to fail back in September, with the council staff mystified as to why.

A council representative confirmed that staff were waiting on the results of forensic examinations on the old membranes to establish a reason for the failure.

“We are still waiting and watching.”

It has been estimated that the problem will be resolved by the end of this month, with the new membranes sourced from another council.

However, the council says that “there is no time frame available for their arrival in Tasman at this stage”.

The cost of replacement is also yet to be confirmed.

The over-pumping into the soakage area was continuing in the meantime, reverting to the system that had been replaced in the treatment plant’s extensive upgrade seven years ago.

The council’s Newsline publication from October 2014 stated that “the $7.7m upgrade of the plant will improve capacity for growth, the quality of treated wastewater, and provide a more controlled method of discharge, resulting in better public health and environmental outcomes”.

The wastewater plant serves Motueka, Riwaka and Kaiteriteri, and is responsible for filtering the area’s water that flows through household and commercial plumbing from the likes of bathrooms, kitchens, and laundries. This water is then discharged into the public wastewater network.