Wastewater

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Wastewater

Water entering a drain. Wastewater is any water that has been used. This could be water from the washing machine or toilet, or water used in a manufacturing process that needs to be discharged. Wastewater is commonly referred to as sewage.

The collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater is essential to minimise the impact of large concentrated populations and their industrial activities on the environment.

We manage the sewerage network for more than 22,000 household and businesses in New Plymouth District and we are responsible for maintenance of the system from your property boundary.

Residents pay for sewage reticulation and treatment through a fixed charge as part of their rates. Industry and trade waste customers are charged based on waste volume and strength.

The waste flows through a system of underground pipes to two wastewater treatment plants in New Plymouth and Waitara.

Water and Wastes Video

See our introduction to Water and Wastes video on YouTube.

Did you know …

The average wastewater flow per person is about 270 litres a day, made up of washing, bathing and toilet discharges and including groundwater and stormwater inflows into the sewers.
The New Plymouth Wastewater Treatment Plant is designed to handle a population equivalent of 76,000 people with further expansion planned to accommodate predicted growth in industry.
There is about 450km of sewer mains throughout New Plymouth District including Oakura, Waitara and Inglewood townships.
Biosolids are high in nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and can be used safely as a fertiliser. During treatment (at the New Plymouth Waste Water Treatment Plant) bacteria and other organisms eat the waste in the sewage and multiply. Excess organisms are removed and thermally dried to form biosolids.
The New Plymouth Wastewater Treatment Plant produces more than 1,200 tonnes of biosolids each year.
The replacement value of our wastewater treatment systems is $264 million. Return to top

Definitions

Biosolids - Sewage sludges or sewage sludges mixed with other material, treated and stabilised to such an extent that they are able to be safely and sustainably applied to land.

Infiltration and inflow - Groundwater and stormwater that makes its way into the sewer network through poor condition pipes or illegal and direct connections. This includes low gully traps in properties.

Sewage - Wastewater derived from human communities – toilet, bathroom, laundry and kitchen waste.

Sewer - A pipe that conveys sewage.

Sewerage system - The complete sewage collection, treatment and disposal system.

Get connected

To get a sewer connected you need to complete a sewer connection application form (below).

Once approved, you will receive a letter of acceptance from us along with a list of Council-approved contractors that are able to carry out sewer connections on sewer mains up to 225mm in diameter. All financial arrangements for the works are then between you and the contractor.

The sewer connection has to be inspected by us before backfilling begins. Photos showing the connection and the property will be accepted from the contractor if the supervisor is unable to inspect it. An as built drawing is required at the completion of the work.