Time to take a serious look at wastewater issue

‘‘NEW Zealanders flush toilets millions of times each day and most of them lead to treatment plants that are not complying with their conditions for treating wastewater’’ (ODT, 25.8.20).

This is beyond belief. Over recent years, there has been a huge commitment to improve the quality of natural waters (surface and groundwater) in New Zealand and a very significant part of this has been targeted at the farming industry, particularly with respect to nitrogen, oxygendemanding components and pathogenic bacteria.

Requiring municipal wastewater treatment plants to meet their resource consent conditions for discharge, which are designed to protect the receiving environment and reflect best practice, is not rocket science.

The fact that consenting authorities (mainly regional councils) are not doing this is a dereliction of their duty and pathetic in the extreme.

From an environmental and public health aspect, there is no difference in the effects of the contaminants inherent in cow poo and human poo — in fact, the latter could be considered more dangerous with respect to pathogenic bacteria and viruses (and methamphetamine residue).

I note that one of the reasons given for this travesty is that the consenting authorities are reluctant to require compliance, which may require treatment plant upgrades, because of the potential for this to increase rates. So, farmers can afford to spend money to improve environmental outcomes but ratepayers in towns and cities can’t?

If central and local government, and the various other organisations involved in New Zealand’s water quality, are serious about improving this where required then a level playing field must be provided. Otherwise, the whole process is a sham and we will never get to where we would like to go.

John Milburn

Wanaka

BIBLE READING: For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them. — Matthew 18:20.