Time is of the essence to a coliform reduced presence
Annual Conference
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The Patea Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) discharges treated wastewater into the tidal reaches of the river. Before the upgrade in 2008 the WWTP consisted of a single oxidation pond, with a highly variable effluent quality due to short circuiting, particularly for pathogen indicators.
The resource consent for the discharge to the river expired in 2004. As part of the consent renewal process, an issues and options report was prepared, which recommended upgrading the WWTP by adding a mechanical fine screen and subdividing the pond into multiple ponds in series, to reduce short circuiting. This proposal was supported by key stakeholders.
The WWTP upgrade was completed in 2008 and involved installing a fine screen and subdividing the pond into three ponds in series. A significant improvement in effluent quality was achieved, with median faecal coliforms reducing from 32,000 to 78 cfu/100 ml following the upgrade. Monitoring of pathogen indicators in the Patea River upstream and downstream of the discharge by the Taranaki Regional Council since the upgrade has found that there are now no measurable bacteriological impacts on the receiving environment.