Get the latest news and meeting reports on the wastewater treatment plant recovery.

Updated air monitoring graphs

31 January 2023

We have published updated hydrogen sulphide graphs on the Air, water quality and house-testing results page, under the combined site readings drop-down menu. The updated graphs are for the period 18 January 2023 to 30 January 2023.

FENZ fire investigation report published

16 December 2022.

We have just received from FENZ their Fire Investigation Report – Shuttle Drive, Bromley, Christchurch City [PDF, 5.1 MB].

Consequently, we have not had an opportunity to consider it fully. Our own investigation is ongoing and we will not be commenting further.


Snapshot of hydrogen sulphide levels decrease

2 November 2022.

This graph shows how the hydrogen sulphide levels coming from the oxidation ponds has significantly decreased over the four months from 10 June to 10 October 2022.

The activated sludge plant was made operational on 28 July, with the biology reaching full maturity on 17 August, despite the challenges of growing the biology over the middle of winter. 

It took four weeks for the better-quality wastewater to flush through our network of six ponds, with the odour substantially reduced by mid-September. This was in line with the timeframes that we promised the community we'd work to.


Hold off from cleaning your house

30 September 2022.

With hydrogen sulphide levels dropping and the days warming up, it might be tempting to clean any discolouration off your house that might have been caused by a chemical reaction between lead paint and hydrogen sulphide. 

We ask that you keep waiting. Before we begin encouraging people to clean their homes, we'd like to see at least four weeks of low hydrogen sulphide levels and improved weather to get an idea of how any discolouration fades. 

We're about to start monitoring some 'test houses' and will provide updates on our website to show how the discolouration improves. 

If you absolutely must clean your house now, make sure you're familiar with our list of dos and don'ts that we published last month. 

Do:

  • Read the report findings and information(external link) on house discolouration. 
  • Wash your walls with a commercial chlorine-based solution, or warm, soapy water. This could help remove any organic dust, common moulds and some discolouration. The presence of these common moulds is not linked to the wastewater treatment plant fire.
  • Adhere to the manufacturers’ proprietary ratio recommendations if you use a commercial chlorine-based solution.
  • Several washes might be required.

Don't:

  • Don't use a high-pressure washer to try and clean any staining or discolouration, as this could result in flakes of lead-based paint entering the environment.
  • Don't exceed the manufacturer’s proprietary ratio recommendations if you use a commercial chlorine-based solution.

The Ministry of Health(external link) has more information about lead-based paint.

Our team is keeping a register of homes that have reported paint discolouration. If your home has discolouration and you haven't let us know, or if you'd like more advice about what to do, email wastewater@ccc.govt.nz.

September 2022

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December 2021

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January 2023

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June 2022

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December 2021

7 July 2022

Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant  meeting between CDHB, ECAN and Christchurch City Council.

Action points:

  • Proceed with the setting up of the continuous monitors at the agreed sites.
  • Work with comms regarding the best way to display data on website from continuous monitors.

30 June 2022

Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant  meeting between CDHB, ECAN and Christchurch City Council.

Action points:

  • Circulate notes for confirmation
  • Circulate report on SIFT – MS sampling when available
  • Prepare draft/updated information for Council website.

23 June 2022

Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant meeting between CDHB, ECAN and Christchurch City Council.

Action points:

  • Send invitations to Medical Officer of Health for the Council meeting on 30/06

21 June 2022

Wastewater Treatment Plant Communications Advisory Group minutes [PDF, 592 KB].

9 June 2022

Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant meeting between CDHB, ECAN and Christchurch City Council.

Action points:

  • Report on Summary of completed sampling to be prepared.
  • Continue deploying H2S meters.
  • Ecan make available information from SO2 and H2S monitoring when available.