Mangere WWTP (Auckland)

The Mangere treatment plant, was built in 1960 and currently serves Auckland, Manukau and Waitakere Cities and the Papakura District. It is the largest such treatment plant in New Zealand using methods similar to those usedthroughout the country.
Description of facility: 

The works at Mangere provide both primary and secondary treatment processes. Typically primary treatment removes most of the solids from the effluent, but doesn't remove or degrade the dissolved organic matter. Secondary treatment uses microorganisms to convert these organics to simple compounds, and uses the energy of the sun to destroy pathogens2.

The works were originally designed to take advantage of the natural features of the site. Oxidation ponds provided a very economical secondary treatment and these were chosen because a suitable area of harbour mudflats could be formed into ponds and because Auckland has the sunny climate necessary for the efficient working of the ponds.

Today the plant no longer uses oxidation ponds to treat wastewater. New land-based technology has allowed 500 hectares of oxidation ponds to return to the Manukau Harbour and restoration of 13 kilometres of shoreline. The old secondary and tertiary treatment processes at the plant have been replaced with new technology (reactor clarifiers and ultraviolet filtration) while other areas of the plant have either been replaced or comprehensively upgraded. Much of the operation at the Mangere plant has been computer automated. The generation at the site is around 7.4 MW.

Facility type: 
Biogas
Application: 
Water Treatment
Technology type: 
Anaerobic Digester
Fuel/Feedstock: 
Municipal Waste
Primary Output: 
Heat
Co-generation: 
Yes
Address: 
Island Road, Mangere, Auckland, New Zealand
Region: 
Upper North Island
Geo Location: 
Owner: 
Watercare Services Ltd.
Consultant: 
Spiire