Wanaka’s new multi-million dollar wastewater treatment facility, Project Pure, has been temporarily shut down, while a number of issues associated with its commissioning are resolved.

“The plant has experienced some mechanical difficulties over the Christmas and New Year period, resulting in the decision to redirect wastewater flow to the Wanaka and Albert Town ponds,” Queenstown Lakes District Council project manager Martin O’Malley said.

On Saturday night the control system malfunctioned resulting in a failure of the disposal field system.  The plant operator also noticed an increased level of localised ponding.

“We needed to act quickly to avoid the possibility of treated wastewater entering any neighbouring properties,” Mr O’Malley said.

Delays in getting spare parts for the plant over the holiday break meant that it was running at less than 50% capacity during the peak flow period.

The commissioning of Project Pure had been underway since early November 2008 and would continue until mid February 2009.

“We would generally expect there would be one or two problems to iron out over this commissioning phase, which is aimed at streamlining the treatment process,” Mr O’Malley said.

The Council and the Project Pure design team were working closely together to get the plant back up and running as soon as possible.

ENDS:

For further information please contact Martin O’Malley 027 253 4368.

By: QLDC