How we treat our wastewater and trade waste
Our treatment plants operate slightly differently but both produce the same high standard of clean, safe water without using any chemicals in the treatment process.
Our wastewater treatment plants clean enough water to fill about 11 Olympic sized swimming pools every day. This amount will grow as the city and population grows.
At the Chapel Street treatment plant we capture methane gas generated in the wastewater treatment process and convert it into electricity to power up to 40% of the daily energy needs of the plant.
How do we treat your wasterwater booklet (4mb pdf)
When we clean the wastewater, unfortunately we find a lot more in it than just the three P’s (Pee, Poo and Paper (toilet). Most wastewater blockages occur when people flush things down their toilets or sinks that they shouldn’t like wet wipes, fats and cooking oils.
Follow our practical tips to stop these blockages from occurring and help protect our wastewater network and environment.
Learn more about trade waste and industrial and business requirements of disposing liquid waste
Where our treated wastewater goes
Treated wastewater from both Chapel Street and Te Maunga is discharged into the ocean via a 950m-long ocean outfall pipe. This pipe is buried below the seabed and is 600mm in diameter. It’s located offshore from Papamoa Beach and operates under strict resource consent conditions which council must adhere to.
If you are interested to learn more attend one of our site open days. Express your interest to attend a tour.
Our wastewater consents
Tauranga City Council has legal permission (via resource consent) to discharge treated wastewater into the ocean. There are special conditions to protect the environment and this activity is monitored to make sure those conditions are met.
One of those conditions is that treated wastewater must pass through wetlands at Te Maunga before being discharged via the ocean outfall pipe. This helps to absorb excess nutrients.
Other conditions we must meet include:
- monitoring the amount, and flow rates, of the treated wastewater discharge
- monitoring the treated wastewater quality (this includes 20 different types of tests)
- testing the receiving ocean water at nine locations for microbiological levels
- testing shellfish for microbiological and trace metal levels
- undertaking a comprehensive ecological survey of marine life and sediments in the vicinity of the outfall pipe every 10 years.
Air quality is also strictly monitored at the Chapel Street and Te Maunga wastewater treatment plants. We must:
- maintain an odour complaints register
- periodically undertake odour measurements at specified locations
- walk around both treatment plants once a month to check for any odours
- conduct a biennial odour survey of the communities around the Chapel Street and Te Maunga treatment plants.
Wastewater Management Review Committee
Council must proactively review any technical developments or industry improvements regarding wastewater treatment and disposal. Our Wastewater Management Review Committee is responsible for this, and is made up of elected councillors (or appointed commissioners at present) plus tangata whenua representatives. Their job is to recommend future action on wastewater management in our city, and make decisions on the Environmental Mitigation and Enhancement Fund. The establishment of this fund is also part of our resource consent conditions.
Environmental Policy
With the ongoing support and leadership of senior management, the Wastewater Treatment Plants and Laboratory are dedicated to maintaining high standards of environmental responsibility. Our commitments include:
- Ensuring all treated wastewater discharged into the ocean consistently meets resource consent conditions.
- Understanding, measuring, and reducing our environmental impact.
- Identifying and proactively addressing environmental risks and opportunities.
- Promoting recycling initiatives internally and encouraging sustainable practices among suppliers and on-site maintenance contractors.
- Pursuing continuous improvement in environmental management systems.
- Complying with all relevant legislation, consents, and regulatory requirements.
- Using resources efficiently and avoiding non-sustainable practices.
- Applying best practicable techniques to prevent pollution.
- Supporting efforts to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing efficiency across operations.
To support these commitments, we provide a framework that:
- Empowers staff to take ownership - individually and collectively - of responsible environmental practices.
- Aims to prevent environmental incidents, while ensuring readiness to respond effectively if they occur.
- Educates and engages staff and stakeholders on environmental issues, fostering collaboration to enhance performance.
- Establishes and reviews environmental objectives and targets to monitor progress and drive improvement.
- Integrates environmental and sustainability considerations into our operational, financial, and social decision-making.