Wastewater standards - separating myth from fact

New Zealand’s first national wastewater environmental standards became law late last year. As the standards begin to be implemented, some questions and misconceptions have emerged.

A key fact is that much of our wastewater infrastructure is aging and under pressure. Decades of underinvestment, combined with deferred maintenance, mean many publicly owned wastewater systems require significant upgrades. About half of our underground wastewater networks are rated by council owners as in very poor, poor or unknown condition.

Around 60 percent of the 330 publicly owned wastewater treatment plants will need to be reconsented within the next 10 years. Many are already operating on expired resource consents.

This upcoming bow wave of consent renewals is a significant hurdle. The current consenting system can be expensive, protracted and unpredictable, making it difficult for councils to manage long-term infrastructure investment.