Photo: Lance Wiggs explains the SCUV system
Kaiwaka wastewater treatment plant upgrade
I attended the official opening of Kaiwaka's wastewater treatment plant upgrade this morning.
The treatment plant is now using innovative New Zealand-developed technology that helps protect local waterways and the Kaipara Harbour during periods of heavy rain. The upgrade includes the installation of a Supercritical UV (SCUV) treatment system, which triples the plant’s ability to disinfect wastewater during wet weather, when flows are higher and harder to manage.
The plant needed extra capacity to cope with increased flows during heavy rain, but there was limited room to expand the site. Early estimates suggested solutions could cost more than $1 million. Instead, the council project team installed a SCUV treatment unit based on successful results at other wastewater treatment plants, delivering the additional capacity needed for approximately $227,000, a significant cost-saving for ratepayers.
Developed by New Zealand company NovoLabs, the SCUV system disinfects wastewater using ultraviolet light, helping maintain treatment performance even during high-flow wet weather conditions.
In the Kaiwaka 'Lakes District'
L to R NovoLabs investor Lance Wiggs, Councillor Craig Jepson, Downer Aidan, independent wastewater advisor Andrew Springer, KDC Cultural Outcomes Manager Jack Rudolph, Councillor Luke Canton, Te Uri o Hau Environs representative Max Kemp, Mayor Jonathan Larsen, KDC Manager Operations (Water, Waste and Land Drainage) Johan Guy, Te Uri o Hau Environs representative Rebecca Fletcher, NovoLabs Chief Commercial Officer Jordan Shilton, Tony Hargreaves, Lindsey Hargreaves.
