26 Feb 2020

New Plymouth wastewater treatment plant's dryer shuts down for $4m repair

4:49 pm on 26 February 2020

New Plymouth District Council has approved a $4.3 million repair to a component of its wastewater treatment plant.

A wastewater treatment plant.

A wastewater treatment plant (File image). Photo: 123RF

It has also committed to investigating alternatives to the gas-fired plant that have cleaner emissions.

A council report blamed maintenance cost-cutting at the thermal drying unit - which dried sewage for use as fertiliser - for the plant being "at risk of sudden and total failure".

It was shut down today.

Climate Justice Taranaki's spokesperson Catherine Cheung told the council today it was a chance to commit to a more environment-friendly dryer.

The council deferred a planned replacement of the dryer by 10 years.

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