Wastewater
Wastewater is drained from showers, sinks, washing machines, baths, toilets, and industrial premises. It’s comprised of 99.9 percent water and contains less than 0.1 percent other materials.
Manawatu District Council collects and treats wastewater from eight communities throughout the District. MDC intends to transfer wastewater from six of these communities to the Feilding Wastewater Treatment Plant in order to remove it from small waterways, improve treatment and reduce environmental impact. The centralisation project will take advantage of the upgrades and dual treatment processes of the Feilding Wastewater Treatment Plant; where treated wastewater is discharged to land during low river levels. This practice dilutes the negative effect the treated water has on the environment.
In November 2018, due to the Manawatū’s effective treatment processes, the Oroua River was recognised as the second most improved river in New Zealand.
Wastewater Network Facts
- 223.5km of pipes
- 2026 manholes
- 6531 connections
- 238 pumping stations
Network Protection
There are industries in the Manawatū District that have the potential to discharge hazardous substances and objects into the wastewater network. They can block or damage the pipe network and disrupt the wastewater treatment process. They can also be a risk to the public, the environment and relevant Council staff.
To minimise these risks, the Council has developed a Trade Wastes Bylaw (PDF file, 1.8 MB). All industries must comply with the bylaw if they wish to use the network and wastewater facilities. Click here for more information about Trade Waste.
New 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 Standards (PDF file, 13.7 MB). For an application form for a new connection, click here.
What Are We Aiming For?
- Manawatū residents satisfaction with their wastewater services
- Majority of urban residents to be within connection distance of a sewer lateral
- Lowest price possible while still ensuring the best quality service
- To provide 24 hours’ notice of planned shutdowns to anyone who might be affected
- To respond to urgent overflow issues within two hours of the call
- To limit the impact that our wastewater systems have on the environment
- To meet all resource consent conditions