Work being undertaken to renew the discharge consent for the Shotover Sewage Treatment Facility has introduced technology, unique in New Zealand, Queenstown Lakes District Council Engineering wastewater engineer Martin O'Malley said.

"The council has commissioned Glasson Potts Fowler to carry out the work required to renew the consent and to assess the oxidation ponds," Mr O'Malley said.

"Earlier this week a survey of the ponds was carried out to determine, in main, the quantity of sludge in the ponds," he said.

Not only was the technology 'hands off' it was also unique.

"A device was attached to a remote control boat, which took a depth recording every second and the signal's location captured through the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS). It's my understanding that this technology has not been used in New Zealand before," Mr O'Malley said.

The new technology effectively allowed for a three dimensional view of the ponds.

Now that the information had been captured, it would be downloaded and provided to the council in the near future.

"The information will be extremely valuable when we come to assessing the continued effective treatment of effluent at the plant and the future of waste water disposal at this location," Mr O'Malley said.

ENDS

For further information please contact Martin O'Malley 03 441 0499

By: Sarah