Some 860 homes in one of Christchurch's most earthquake-damaged suburbs have had their sewers cleared and will no longer need chemical toilets.
The city council says it will be contacting Waimairi Beach residents to tell them the good news.
Waste and water manager Mark Christison says the sewer network in the area was clogged with silt and sand and in a badly damaged state.
Mr Christison says clearing it is a major step forward for the network.
The council is progressing steadily now and he hopes to release every house as quickly as possible from the need to use a chemical toilet.
However, he says it will take several years to completely get the sewer network back to its condition before the earthquake on 4 September last year and subsequent quake on 22 February.
