Whakatāne District Council owns, operates and maintains several wastewater schemes (Whakatāne urban, Ōhope, Edgecumbe, Murupara, Tāneatua and Te Mahoe) which provide for the health and safety of the community and our environment.
Wastewater is the liquid which drains from showers, sinks, washing machines, baths, toilets, and industrial premises. Wastewater is 99.9 percent water and contains less than 0.1 percent other materials.
Wastewater is transported through a network of pipes to oxidation ponds for treatment. The system includes screen and grit traps before the primary pond, supplementary aeration and maturation cells. The treated effluent is discharged appropriately.
- Application for Wastewater or Stormwater Connection - (PDF, 193 KB)
- Application for Trade Waste Discharge - (PDF, 812 KB)
Wastewater network facts
- 18,500 people is Whakatāne town's wastewater capacity
- 168.9 km of pipes, ranging from 100 mm to 1800 mm in diameter
- 2294 manholes
- 8086 connections
- 45 pumping stations
- 2 sea outfalls
- 2x 600 metre outfall pipes
Network protection
Industries such as pulp and paper mills, food processors and chemical manufacturers have the potential to release hazardous substances and objects into the wastewater network. They can block or damage the pipe network and disrupt the wastewater treatment process, and they can be a risk to public, environment and relevant Council staff.
To minimise these risks, the Council has developed a Trade Waste Bylaw. All industries must comply with the bylaw if they wish to use the network and wastewater treatment facilities.
Trade Waste Bylaw - (PDF, 1 MB)
Connections
Connections to the Council’s wastewater system are usually arranged through a subdivision or building consent process, and these connections need to comply with the Engineering Code of Practice.
Copies of the Engineering Code of Practice can be downloaded, or copies can be arranged through Customer Services on 07 306 0500.
Infiltration/Inflow (I/I)
Signs of I/I problems are:
- Wastewater manholes surging (lids popping)
- Pump station and gully trap overflows
Wastewater overflow on roads or private property creates health risks. In order to manage the risks, property owners are required to ensure stormwater does not enter the wastewater system through correct mechanisms. If you have one of these occur on your property, you must contact a plumber to have it rectified:
- Stormwater flows into your gully traps that are too low
- Downpipes from your roof lead to wastewater pipes/your gully trap
- Drainage pipe joints leak or cracked pipes
Whakatāne District Council carries out a district-wide property inspection programme to identify gully traps, which either receive roof water via illegally connected down pipes or are inadequately installed to the extent that surface water can flow directly into the wastewater system. Costs associated with the extra wastewater pumping and treatment can increase significantly due to I/I problems.
Council inspects manholes and pipes with diagnostic tools such as smoke and dye tracing and CCTV (Closed Circuit Television Video) where there is a high rate of infiltration/inflow. Remedial works include sealing manholes, grouting pipe joints, relining pipes and replacing pipes.
Wastewater Projects
The Council has a number of wastewater projects, including those below.