In this section
Knowledge Hub / The Network / Wastewater / Wastewater treatment plants / Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant

Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant

At the Moa Point Treatment Plant, sewage travels through a series of screens, tanks, bioreactors, clarifiers and ultraviolet treatments before being discharged as liquid into Cook Strait.

It was granted new consents on 11 May 2009. These consents will continue for 25 years (expire 11 May 2034).

In general, the consents allow WCC:

  • to continuously discharge up to 260,000 cubic meters per day of treated and disinfected wastewater into the coastal marine area via an existing submarine outfall,
  • to discharge up to 4500 litres per second of mixed disinfected, treated and milli-screened wastewater to the coastal marine area during and/or immediately after heavy rainfall, when the quantity of wastewater arriving at the Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant exceeds 3000 litres per second,
  • to occupy the foreshore and seabed of the coastal marine area with an existing submarine outfall pipeline,
  • to continuously discharge contaminants (including odour) to air from the Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant ventilation system.

Resource consents

Resource consent reports

Plant performance



Current Status: Non-compliant 
Period: November 2024

 

Commentary​

The plant remains non-compliant for suspended solids (90th percentile limit) and faecal coliforms (90-day geomean and 90th percentile limits). The current daily results for suspended solids are trending back into compliance by end of December for both the 90-day geomean and 90th percentile limits. Daily results for faecal coliforms show occasional spikes in results which is affecting the 90-day geomean and 90th percentile limits and continues to be investigated.

 

Discharges

There was one unconsented wet weather discharge via the short outfall on 15 November due to the reduced pumping capacity of the Inlet Pumping Station, whilst the riser pipe renewal project takes place (see items of significance).

 

Odour

There were two odour complaints in November. One relating to Moa Point, the other relating to the Southern Landfill site and Careys Gully Sludge Dewatering plant.

 

Items of significance:

Clarifier #1 Renewal Project

Physical works have begun to replace the main bearing and renew structural elements on the final clarifier. With only two of the three clarifiers in operation, pumping capacity is reduced. Work is being carried out over the summer/autumn months when effluent flows are expected to be lower. The project is expected to be completed by mid-2025.

 

Inlet Pump Station (IPS) Project

Physical works for the third and final phase of the IPS project are progressing well and is on target for completion by March 2025. This involves replacing the remaining four of 10 riser pipes, along with four of the 10 submersible pumps, strengthening the IPS’s resilience for high rainfall events.

Public meeting resources