The Kauwhata Marae
is situated on a small area of land surrounded by other
landowners and a stream. During Tangi and Unveilings (especially
over the wet winter months) the sewage system performed inadequately
and required upgrading.
As there was a conflict between the small
land area, high visitor numbers, car parking and sewage disposal
(not to mention the stream across one boundary) Dave designed
a system that incorporated peak load sewage storage sewage
to clearwater treatment system discharging to pressure compensating
drip line irrigation.
By treating the effluent to such a high degree
(BOD:TSS better than 5:5 - other secondary treatment system
can struggle to produce BOD:TSS - 20;30 on a good day) the
treated effluent was able to be discharged to within 8 metres
of the stream. This design was featured in Dave’s address
to the combined NZ Land Treatment Collective // Water and
Waste Association of NZ conference (April 2002) on Small
Community and On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems attended
by 140 delegates.
The Ministry of the Environment requested an item on the Kauwhata
Marae sewage system to include in their "Sewage and Wastewater
Integrated Management Handbook". This model will be available
for communities to determine the most practical options available
to them in dealing with sewage treatment issues. |
