Improving sustainability in Timaru's wastewater system

A need to upgrade its sewerage system and wastewater treatment plants, combined with rising environmental standards and expectations regarding wastewater, lead Timaru District Council on a 17 year journey with Beca to transform its wastewater system.

Almost 20 years ago, we partnered with Timaru District Council to develop a master planning and consenting strategy which has served as a clear "road map" for the district. Council needed a solution that would meet ocean and river discharge standards, was sustainable and cost effective, and replaced the existing aged pump stations and pipelines. And we partnered with them to make it happen.

Our recommendations included:

• upgrading the Geraldine, Pleasant Point and Temuka treatment plants
• eliminating discharges to the Opihi River by piping treated wastewater from these towns to the existing ocean outfall
• separating domestic and industrial flows to the Timaru treatment plant
• replacing a network of pump stations and trunk sewers in Timaru with gravity sewers; and 
• upgrading wastewater treatment of the domestic flows at the Timaru plant.

The strategy was implemented over a period of approximately 15 years, including obtaining all the necessary consents for the treatment plants and ocean outfall.

Through wide stakeholder engagement with the communities of Timaru, Geraldine, Pleasant Point and Temuka, we were able to create a cost-effective, sustainable solution with outstanding client and community buy-in and satisfaction.

Awards

• ACENZ Innovate Awards 2016 – Silver Award of Excellence
• IPWEA NZ Award 2016 – Excellence in Strategic Planning
• IPWEA Australasian Excellence Awards 2017 – Water Category (win)

If projects like this excite you, find out how to join our team. Visit our water page here to check out our opportunities.