A new $1.5 million stormwater treatment system capable of capturing and treating up to one million litres of runoff has been launched at the Port of Tauranga.

The new stormwater treatment system, which required about 10 months’ active construction, is the port’s biggest infrastructure project to date to improve water quality, Port of Tauranga chief executive Leonard Sampson said.

“While the port continues to comply with its resource consent conditions, we pride ourselves on doing more than simply what is required. Our new stormwater treatment system is an example of this approach.

“Our team monitors both stormwater and harbour water to gather data and identify opportunities for improvement, which has resulted in several initiatives and infrastructure upgrades at our Mount Maunganui wharves to prevent contaminants entering Te Awanui Tauranga harbour.”

Sampson said over recent years the port has increased its use of vacuum sweeper trucks, installed large filtration chambers to screen solids like bark and installed fender plates along the wharf edge to cover gaps between the wharves and working bulk vessels, to prevent solids falling into the water.

Port of Tauranga officially opened the new stormwater treatment system on Wednesday. Photo / Cam Neate

“This new stormwater treatment infrastructure launched today represents another step up in our efforts to improve water quality.

“It has been a substantial undertaking for our business, and from conception, to design, then building and testing, our people have worked hard to find solutions and ensure the success of this important project.

“Our electrical team has even built a substation to house the switchboard for the entire treatment system, which can be operated remotely and all aspects of its performance monitored in real time.”

Port of Tauranga environmental manager Joey McKenzie initiated the idea for the system.

During the research phase of the project, automated sampling machines were used to collect stormwater throughout multiple rain events.

“Through sampling, we could identify the ‘first flush’, which is the dirtiest part of stormwater at the start of a rain event,” McKenzie said.

“This new infrastructure means we can now capture the first flush and pump it into our custom-built above-ground tank that holds up to one million litres of water. At maximum volume, this would take 24 hours to treat through the clarifier, with the cleaned water then flowing through to Te Awanui.”

Port chair Julia Hoare (left), chief executive Leonard Sampson, BOP Regional Council chair Matemoana McDonald and Tauranga mayor Mahé Drysdale. Photo / Cam Neate

Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council chair Matemoana McDonald, who cut the ribbon on the facility at a brief ceremony attended by port leaders, local government, iwi and business representatives, congratulated the port for its investment in infrastructure that would directly contribute to better environmental protection for the harbour.

“Water quality is vitally important, and the regional council is grateful for the port’s work to continuously improve the health of Te Awanui,” she said.