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: Nature's sewage treatment solution 
16 March
The Hastings District Council has been given the ‘go-ahead’ by the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council to start building a wastewater treatment facility which uses bacteria to break down sewage.
The District Council has investigated offshore facilities and established a prototype “biological trickling filter” that has been operating locally for the last 5 months to treat sewage in a more economical, and environmentally and culturally-friendly approach than the alternative hi-tech solutions. The findings have been positive and the biological trickling filter concept has been incorporated into the wastewater treatment process.
The facility is expected to be completed by December 2007.
A biological trickling filter consists of a large tank filled with plastic objects designed to maximise surface area for helpful bacteria to live. The raw sewage, with some solids removed, is sprayed onto the top of the tank and trickles down through the objects inside, being broken down by the bacteria.
The result is a much clearer and more environmentally and culturally friendly product which is discharged through the ocean outfall in the usual manner.
The District Council’s Special Projects Manager, David Fraser, said the biological trickling filter would get rid of the need to deal with difficult-to-handle raw sludge (human faecal material that would have settled out in the originally-planned process), and the associated high energy and disposal costs.
“This option will save the community around $1 million a year, as well as providing a better outcome for the environment. It’s always nicer to go with a ‘natural’ solution and this is certainly a win-win for our environment and community.”
For more information:
Please contact David Fraser on 878 0541
