Friday 23 October 2009

Sewage treatment system potentially ‘much cheaper’ alternative

The Clutha District Council will install a new sewage treatment system at Kaka Point which potentially could offer a much cheaper alternative for the township and several other locations facing necessary and costly sewerage upgrades to meet increasing environmental expectations.

Wyndham-based company Biofiltro offers a proprietary technology originating from Chile to treat sewage effluent in a small and low-cost plant. The treatment is based on digestion of the sewage by a bioactive sawdust bed supported by a rock drainage layer. Combined with ultraviolet disinfection, it is expected the treated sewage will be of a standard to comply with anticipated new resource consent conditions.

Manager District Assets Jules Witt said that the Biofiltro system had the potential to halve the annual costs of the cheapest options previously considered for some of those townships facing sewage treatment upgrades.

In Kaka Point, for example, the Biolfiltro system was estimated to cost an additional $160 per ratepayer per year, compared to other treatment upgrade options ranging from $280 to $620 per ratepayer per year.

Council has approved a total budget for the project of $264,000 plus GST, subject to a satisfactory contract, including a suitable performance guarantee, being negotiated with Biofiltro Ltd.