Wastewater Treatment Service
Rotorua’s wastewater (sewage) is treated daily at a central Wastewater Treatment Plant on Te Ngae Rd, that uses a 5-stage Bardenpho process, the first full biological nitrogen and phosphorus process used for municipal wastewater in New Zealand. Depending on the weather, the sludge produced (biosolids) is composted on-site or landfilled while options for ‘beneficial use’ are being investigated.
(image of treatment plant & compost facility)
To protect the quality of the water in Lake Rotorua, the treated effluent from the plant is irrigated to pass through the land in Whakarewarewa Forest before the groundwater discharges to Lake Rotorua.
- The Rotorua Wastewater Treatment Plant serves a population of approximately 60 000 people. It has the capacity to serve a population of 75 000.
- At the plant, we treat an average of 18 000m3 (18 000 000 litres) of wastewater each day. We have the capacity to treat a daily average wastewater intake of 27 000m3.
- Most of Rotorua's wastewater is generated by domestic use. A small percentage is from industrial use.