Watercare'S Comprehensive Wastewater Network Discharge Permit

In June 2014 Watercare Services Limited was granted a comprehensive, 35 year wastewater network discharge permit authorising existing and future discharges (dry weather and wet weather overflows) from the majority of Auckland's public wastewater network. The permit authorises discharges from 7,700 km of wastewater pipes across Watercare’s existing wastewater networks in Auckland’s metropolitan area and the satellite townships to the North and South, and future extensions to those networks in known growth areas. The permit establishes a consistent set of consent conditions governing the operation and management of the existing networks inherited from legacy councils, and future extensions to those networks.

This paper discusses key steps in the consenting process and features of the consent, as well as the key lessons learnt.