Wastewater

The Council is responsible for the collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater from our communities throughout the district. This includes the management, operation and maintenance of a number of wastewater pump stations, treatment plants and over 240 km of wastewater mains.

Wastewater Responsibility

The Council owns and is responsible for maintaining all sewer mains. Landowners are responsible for the private sewer lateral to the point of discharge at the sewer main - this includes any blockages in this section.

If you experience a blockage in your sewer lateral, you should call a local drainlayer or plumber. If the blockage is due to a fault in the sewer main or a structural fault in the sewer lateral within road reserve, please contact the Council. Any costs you have incurred from a private plumber or drainlayer due to a fault in Council-owned pipes can be reimbursed, just give us a call.

For any new connections to the Council's wastewater network, on any of the schemes, you will require a building consent and an application must be made to the Wastewater Asset Manager.

Visit the Request a Wastewater Connection page for more information.

If you are part of one of the Council’s five STEP schemes, or have your own on-site disposal field, care of your septic tank is crucial to its successful operation. The septic tank, pipework to the boundary and pumps are the responsibility of the property owner.

Below are a few points to assist in looking after your septic tank system.

How to Use Your Septic Tank

Provided it is properly cared for, your septic tank is a simple and effective means of effluent disposal and will give you many years of reliable service. Remember to:

Reduce Sludge Build-Up

  • DO scrape all your dishes to remove fats and food particles before washing
  • DO keep all possible solids out of your system
  • DON'T use a waste disposal unit
  • DON'T pass sanitary napkins, disposable nappies etc. into the system.

Conserve Water

  • DO install water saving devices, e.g. dual flush toilets
  • DO take showers instead of baths
  • DON'T wash clothes until you have a full load.

Regular Maintenance

By following a simple maintenance programme you can ensure that you will continue to have an efficient and healthy disposal system for many years.

Clean the Septic Tank Regularly

This should be done about every three years to remove the build-up of solids in the tank and the date recorded for future reference. If you need advice, contact your local cleaning contractor or the Council wastewater department.

If you are connected to a Council wastewater STEP scheme, the cleaning of the septic tank is carried out by the Council every three years and is paid for as part of your annual rates.

Keep the Bacteria Working

  • DO use biodegradable soaps and washing powder.
  • DON’T overuse powerful bleaches and disinfectants or put chemicals or paint down the drain.

For further information on your septic tank system, look at the WaterNZ booklet: Information About Your Septic Tank.

The Council currently has six pressure sewer schemes at Tuahiwi, Fernside, Northside Country, Waikuku Beach, Stages 12 and 13 at Pegasus, Ohoka Village and Beach Grove, Kaiapoi.  For pressure sewer schemes, the pump station, pipework to the boundary and control panel are all the responsibility of the property owner.

Approved Pressure Sewer Suppliers

Aquatec Fluid Systems Pty Ltd

Pump Station Make and Model*: SPSS4101B0311 1100L Free standing OGT pressure sewer system

Aquatec Fluid Systems NZ Ltd
52 Orbell Street
Sydenham
Christchurch 8023 
Phone: 0800 756 534
Email: info@aquatecenviro.co.nz
www.aquatecenviro.com

E-One (distributed through Ecoflow)

Pump Station Make and Model*: Environment One (E/One) Simplex 2010ip

Ecoflow Ltd - Christchurch
15 Anchorage Road
Christchurch 8042
Phone: 03 349 2506
Email: info@ecoflow.co.nz
www.ecoflow.co.nz

*Installation of any model pump station other than those specified above is subject to specific approval from the Wastewater Asset Manager.

We recommend that prospective purchasers obtain their own information from the suppliers and do their own assessment to make an informed decision before purchasing a pump station.

Wastewater Schemes

Gravity Schemes

Wastewater service is provided via gravity through piped reticulation to a large treatment plant often with pump stations within the reticulated area.

For any properties with an on-site septic tank within an urban service area, the tanks are generally owned and maintained by the individual property owners, including any cleaning.

STEP Schemes

Wastewater service is provided by a Septic Tank Effluent Pumping (STEP) system.

Raw sewage is collected in private on-site septic tanks where it receives primary treatment and screening.  The primary treated effluent is then pumped to a treatment plant. The on-site septic tanks are owned and maintained by the individual property owners while the common rising main and treatment plant is owned and operated by the Council.

Pressure Schemes

Wastewater service is provided by a pressure sewer system.

Raw sewerage is collected in privately owned on-site pump stations. These contain a macerating pump which breaks up the raw sewerage into a slurry before pumping into the Council-owned mains through to the treatment plant.

SCHEMESEWER SERVICE TYPEINITIAL TREATMENT PLANTTREATMENT
RangioraGravityRangioraAeration basin, oxidation ponds (conveyed to Kaiapoi WWTP for further treatment) then discharge to Ocean Outfall
Loburn LeaGravity
FernsideSTEP
Mandeville/OhokaSTEP and pressure
KaiapoiGravity and pressureKaiapoiAeration basin, oxidation ponds, wetlands and UV disinfection discharge to Ocean Outfall
Pines KairakiGravity
PegasusGravity, Pressure and STEPWoodendAeration basin, oxidation ponds, wetlands and UV disinfection discharge to combined  Ocean Outfall
WoodendGravity  
Woodend BeachGravity  
TuahiwiPressure
Waikuku BeachGravity and pressureWaikuku BeachOxidation ponds (conveyed to Woodend WWTP for further treatment)
OxfordGravity, STEP and PressureOxfordActivated sludge and UV disinfection, Irrigated to Land
Last reviewed date: 30 Aug 2023