Currently, raw sewage is being flushed into Hawke Bay, a situation that Mayor Kirsten Wise has said is her number one priority in the post-cyclone recovery and rebuild.
The recommissioning of Napier’s damaged and out of action wastewater treatment plant is underway, with phase one – reinstating milliscreens – to be completed in the next fortnight.
Milliscreens are used to separate large solids, materials and waste products, information on NCC’s website states.
“Recomissioning the milliscreens will allow a basic level of filtering of wastewater before it enters the outfall pipe. Progress on phase one is positive with the milliscreens on track to be operational by 6 April 2023.”
Council spokeswoman Julia Atkinson said that Phase two would take a bit longer.
“A firm ‘online’ date for the Biological Trickling Filter (BTFs) Plants is less certain at this stage. The initial priority has been to get the milliscreens restored to allow for a basic level of filtering,” she said.
Phase two is decommissioning the Biological Trickling Filters, designed to create a biological environment for breaking down harmful bacteria in the remaining sewerage over time. There are two BTFs to get back up and running. Once reinstated, this means that sewerage will then be treated before entering the outfall pipe.
“Simultaneously, the team has been cleaning out the BTF’s, assessing damaged equipment and designing temporary systems – there has been extensive damage to electrical systems and switching arrangements which will need to be bypassed initially to get the BTF’s running.
“The biological environment in the BTF’s has completely depleted and will require resetting, this process can be variable from plant to plant and typically takes a number of weeks to reach its optimum culture,” Atkinson said.
NCC does not yet have a firm timeline for this.
Napier Households continue to be asked to conserve water until the plant is back in action, and limit water in household tasks like washing dishes and taking showers, where possible. It also helps if dishwashers and washing machines are run early in the morning or late at night.
It’s important not to flush baby wipes or sanitary products, which will end up directly in the ocean while there is no filtration in place, and don’t rush to flush, the council advises.
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Many thanks to the staff who are working on a most unpleasant task, possibly dangerous for their health, to get our sewerage system running again.
What with pumping raw, untreated sewage into the Bay, one wouldn’t or shouldn’t have to think, to know it should be NCC’s top priority!
number one priority!
This was beyond what HB had been told to expect. If you could see what the people cleaning out the facility have to put up with, you would just be grateful it is not your job. Why not offer your services to help and not complain?
The PM and MP’s have really only gone and looked from their helicopter mostly, and so have not ‘stood in the muck’ that the workers have been working in for weeks. Thank goodness our locals (not hierarchy) got on with the job and are working hard to bring some normality back.
Absolutely agree with you Mr Bosley, as usual, sea life continues to suffer at the hands of mankind, the ongoing sewerage system has been a pain in the “butt” for sometime now.
Is it really a Priority that it’s taking so long
Thank you for all your hard work.. i hope the plant’s resilience can be improved ahead.
I can’t bear to think about it really. It’s such a gigantic step backwards for the environment, especially the ocean. Was thinking today, at least it will keep the bottom-trawling boats out of the Bay for a while. Small recompense.