Fonterra were operating a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) on Fencourt Road that is part of their wastewater strategy for its key Hautapu processing site in the Waipa district.

The purpose of the WWTP is to treat processing wastewater and other associated wastewater streams from its nearby Hautapu dairy manufacturing site. The treatment plant has the ability to reduce nitrogen, phospherus, bacteria and sediment levels in factory wastewater.

During the projects initial planning stages, there were some concerns around any discharging into the river. Dave Wright, the companies consents manager, said irrigation to land is preferred, but at certain times of the year, when weather conditions are too wet, the treated water will have to be discharged.

Because of this, Fonterra approached Incon Automation, who specialise in Effluent & Stormwater treatment and monitoring, to add additional storage capacity for them to use during the wet months. In addition to this, Incon Automation also modernised the current distribution and monitoring system.

Before starting the wastewater treatment project, Incon Automation and the production plant set several key goals to ensure the upgrade would improve efficiency, reliability, and compliance.

These goals included:

By adding the additional storage, Fonterra were able to minimise any discharges during the wet months. They were also provided with a modernised system for distribution and monitoring.

Incon Automation successfully aligned their upgrade with the plant’s key goals—enhancing reliability, improving real-time monitoring, reducing manual intervention, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Through the integration of a radio-linked remote control station, the new system now provides operators with instant access to critical data, allowing for faster decision-making and improved operational efficiency.

The result is a modernised wastewater storage and distribution system that not only meets the plant’s current needs during the wet months, but also positions it for future growth and adaptability. This upgrade ensures smoother operations, reduces any potential downtime, and provides a more sustainable approach to wastewater management that aligns with their companies goals.