"MWH suggested council should install directional aerators, but that was not done," he said.
The twister aerators operated for six months and in that period the plant was functioning as required, he said. But when they, too, failed and were not replaced, the plant ground to a halt and Whanganui was left with a horrendous smell.
Mr Hovey maintains the MWH plant could have worked if operated properly with the correct aerators. However, that account has been rejected by council, which has had advice that the plant, as designed, could never have done the job.
The Ratepayers' Association had a petition under way last night, calling for an independent public inquiry into the failure of the plant and for any expenditure on the new plant to be suspended until the outcome of the inquiry is known.