Get the latest news and meeting reports on the wastewater treatment plant recovery.
Recent news
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.
Newsline stories
September 2022
- Waterfowl return as oxidation ponds recover(external link) - 23 August 2022
August 2022
- Weather conditions leading to increased odours from oxidation ponds(external link) - 17 August 2022
- Wastewater trickling filters to be empty by Monday(external link) - 5 August 2022
- More support for those affected by wastewater treatment plant smells(external link) - 3 August 2022
July 2022
- New activated sludge system fully operational(external link) - 27 July 2022
June 2022
- No long-term harm expected from wastewater treatment plant stench(external link) - 30 June 2022
- First loads of filter material on the move tomorrow(external link) - 2 June 2022
May 2022
- Council confirms community support package (external link)- 26 May 2022
- More details released of community support package(external link) - 20 May 2022
- Support for residents most impacted by treatment plant stench(external link) - 17 May 2022
- Work to end wastewater plant stench starting tomorrow(external link) - 11 May 2022
- Reassuring news from gas testing at the wastewater plant(external link) - 3 May 2022
April 2022
- No quick fix to wastewater treatment plant stench(external link) - 28 April 2022
- Getting to the bottom of the wastewater treatment plant stench(external link) - 22 April 2022
- Council fast-tracking work to end Bromley odour(external link) - 12 April 2022
- Aerators surge to life at wastewater treatment plant(external link) - 6 April 2022
March 2022
- Aerators installed at wastewater treatment plant(external link) - 16 March 2022
February 2022
- Aeration components arriving at Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant(external link) - 14 February 2022
December 2021
- Way forward identified for wastewater treatment plant modifications(external link) - 17 December 2021
- Completion of filter material removal trial at wastewater treatment plant(external link) - 7 December 2021
- Wastewater treatment plant fire: what you need to know(external link) - 2 December 2021
November 2021
- Removal work to start at the wastewater treatment plant(external link) - 26 November 2021
- Wastewater treatment plant fire extinguished(external link) - 19 November 2021
- Fewer hot spots at fire-damaged wastewater treatment plant(external link) - 10 November 2021
- Temporary change to treatment process adding to smell issue(external link) - 5 November 2021
- Council working to reduce the smell from fire-damaged plant(external link) - 4 November 2021
- Damage assessment at wastewater plant underway(external link) - 3 November 2021
- Damage to wastewater treatment plant still to be assessed(external link) - 2 November 2021
- Fire at Christchurch wastewater treatment plant(external link) - 1 November 2021
Newsletters
January 2023
- Organics processing and wastewater treatment plants update(external link) - 24 January 2023
- Organics processing and wastewater treatment plants update(external link) - 13 January 2023
October 2022
- No more red ponds!(external link) - 21 October 2022
- Big pond improvements as we move to fortnightly updates(external link) - 7 October 2022
September 2022
- New pond trend graphs(external link) - 30 September 2022
- Ponds go green and waterfowl starts returning(external link) - 23 September 2022
- Ponds continue improving, Mayor thanks contractors(external link) - 16 September 2022
- The ponds are turning orange (and that's a good thing)(external link) - 9 September 2022
- The ponds are slowly improving(external link) - 2 September 2022
August 2022
- Showing how the water quality is improving(external link) - 26 August 2022
- Weather conditions leading to increased odour reports(external link) - 19 August 2022
- Trickling filters empty and support package closure(external link) - 12 August 2022
- It's been a big week(external link) - 5 August 2022
July 2022
- Activated sludge treatment comes online(external link) - 29 July 2022
- We're halfway through trickling filter #2(external link) - 22 July 2022
- Continuous air monitoring results published(external link) - 15 July 2022
- Work is underway on the second trickling filter(external link) - 8 July 2022
- Trickling filter work hits the halfway mark(external link) - 1 July 2022
June 2022
- First trickling filter almost emptied(external link) - 23 June 2022
- Work gathers momentum and new video(external link) - 17 June 2022
- Good progress over the past week(external link) - 10 June 2022
- First load of filter material on the move tomorrow(external link) - 2 June 2022
May 2022
- Council confirms community support package(external link) - 26 May 2022
- More details released of community support package(external link) - 20 May 2022
- Support for residents most impacted by treatment plant stench(external link) - 17 May 2022
- Work to end wastewater stench starting tomorrow(external link) - 11 May 2022
- Update on air testing findings(external link) - 6 May 2022
April 2022
- Timeline for the wastewater treatment plant and decision to move the organics processing plant(external link) - 28 April 2022
- Watch live briefings for the wastewater treatment plant and report recommendations for the organics processing plant(external link) - 26 April 2022
- Getting to the bottom of the wastewater treatment plant stench(external link) - 22 April 2022
- Council decide to fast-track appointing a contractor(external link) - 12 April 2022
- Update: Aerators are turned on at the wastewater treatment plant(external link) - 6 April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
- Aerators arrive at the wastewater treatment plant(external link) - 14 February 2022
December 2021
Meetings and minutes
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.