23 Jan 2013

Engineers called in to help fix treatment plant

1:19 pm on 23 January 2013

Experts have visited Whanganui's failing wastewater plant to help fix a stench that continues to distress residents.

Foul smells from the plant have plagued the city intermittently since before Christmas and the city's councillors were told last week that the plant has never worked as it was designed to.

Whanganui mayor Annette Main said engineers from Cardno BTO are at the plant looking at short-term ways to reduce the smell.

The engineering firm is also looking at whether the plant can be adapted to work properly and, if not, look at providing other options.

Ms Main says the smell was especially bad earlier in the week in some parts of the city.

Meanwhile, the council says a build-up of sludge at the treatment plant is starting to reduce with the bacterial process now working.