Council has invested heavily in the wastewater irrigation systems, which sees treated wastewater discharged to land. Crops and grass grown from the irrigated land are sold to local farmers as feed for their stock.

To date the irrigation has caused a significant reduction in the amount of nutrients being put into the river.

Instead these nutrients have been used to grow grass over the summer months on the 200 hectares of land owned by Council, of which about 130 ha is currently irrigated.

Council's intention is to create a long-term sustainable solution for the disposal of treated wastewater that will contribute to significant improvements in the ecological condition of the Ōroua River.

Take a quick tour of the Manawatū Wastewater treatment Plant with Richard and find out what we're doing to be more environmentally responsible when it comes to discharging wastewater.