Strong pongs return with the summer sun

WHIFFY WANGANUI: The forecast is for a summer of odours but that will be the end of it. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY A - 201013WCBRCFLIGHT23

Expect the smell from sludge to scent another summer in Wanganui.

Work is progressing on Wanganui's $24 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade, but there will be odours as sludge is transferred from the original settling pond into the main pond.

And Mayor Annette Main has advised the smell will linger for several months yet.

Yesterday Ms Main said four new pumps have been installed and when one was started on Thursday the smell increased as contractors transferred more sludge. There had been some respite from last summer's pong over winter.

Ms Main expects the remaining two metres of sludge to be transferred over the next three weeks, depending on the weather.

"As the rest of the pumps are brought into action, the smell will increase further.

"While the odour is a major issue for us all, we are on the way to having a fully functioning compliant treatment plant."

Ms Main warns that odours will continue and increase over the summer as the load into the plant increases and as the council and contractors work on the main pond.

"There will be a break in work during the Christmas period but the length of that break will depend on progress with the sludge removal."

The "odour fence" has been erected around the ponds to reduce the smell, not eliminate it.

Ms Main said the council has been advised that without the fence the smell would be much worse.

If the smells reached the levels they did last summer, the council would have to get permission from Horizons Regional Council and the Environment Court to bypass the treatment plant and discharge directly to sea.

Ms Main said discharging to sea would have an impact on residents and visitors who wanted to enjoy our beaches for recreation such as swimming, surfing and fishing during the summer period, as well as having an adverse effect on the environment.

"We're in for some strong odours in the coming days, weeks and months - it will be unpleasant but we must try to focus on the end result."

Ms Main continued that once construction of the upgraded plant begins, expected to be at Easter, there will be no more odours as the sludge will be stored in a covered pond and it will be removed daily for composting and recycling, after it has been de-watered.