Why GWE for Industrial Wastewater
Trade waste compliance
advice & design for trade waste permits and resource consents.
Industrial treatment solutions
process-appropriate treatment and disposal solutions for industrial sites.
Regulatory reporting assurance
clear, defensible reporting for councils and regulators.
Performance and risk control
minimising operational risk while maximising efficiency and savings.
What we do
Process & Plant Design
GWE’s team of engineers undertake the plant design and selection of processing equipment for wastewater’s that require treatment prior to discharge to the public sewer or the environment and includes:
Review of existing treatment processes to identify bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement
Process design for new wastewater plants including pond systems, sequence batch reactors (SBR) and membrane bioreactors (MBR)
Design and automation of chemical dosing and storage facilities
Operational improvements, operational support and training
Food Processing Wastewater
Copious wastewater is generated in food production. Effluent characteristics vary widely and require different processing technologies to meet discharge limits.
Almost all food processing wastes will require physical and biological treatment for BOD removal. Some wastewaters will contain very high BOD and anaerobic as well as aerobic systems will be necessary. Process stages may include,
At source flow separation
Anaerobic/Aerobic treatment
Sludge storage and digestion
Screening and Flow equalisation
Solids/Liquid separation
Sludge dewatering
Dairy Farm Effluent
Farm Dairy Effluent (FDE) management is critical due to the contamination risks it poses to surface and groundwater when treatment systems underperform or fail. GWE’s process engineers provide the farming and dairy sectors with specialist expertise in the design, treatment and safe disposal of farm effluents.
Investigation and design of FDE treatment and land application systems
Dairy shed, feedpad and silage storage bin layout to suit the FDE treatment system
Resource consent applications
Design of farm water reticulation system.
Trade Waste Management Plans
GWE assists our commercial and industrial clients with the preparation of trade waste management plans and permit applications. Our team of engineers can undertake a comprehensive review of your businesses water use and provide advice for managing and reducing your water consumption and trade waste obligations through process optimisation and waste minimisation.
Assessment of current and future flows and loads
Trade waste management plan and emergency spill response
Model capacity of the sewer network
Waste minimisation and cleaner production initiatives
Pretreatment of trade waste
Flow buffering and timing of discharge
Treatment Optimisation & Audits
We audit existing plant performance, identify bottlenecks, propose upgrades and new control strategies to maximise treatment and reduce cost.
Consenting & Reporting
Many rural based, “wet industries” will require a regional resource consent for the discharge of wastewater to the environment. GWE provides its clients with advice on the resource consent requirements and the technical and planning reports, including Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE) to support resource consent applications for new and renewal of single site wastewater systems.
Why Choose GWE
Regulatory certainty
robust technical design and consent documentation that satisfies councils and regulators.
Operational efficiency
optimised systems reduce ongoing costs, minimise trade waste charges and mitigate bottlenecks.
Process alignment
designs tailored to industrial flows, contaminants and seasonal load peaks.
Long-term assurance
systems built for resilience and scale, reducing the risk of non-compliance or failure.
How we work (LIFT)
L
Listen
we begin by understanding your process, contaminant streams and regulatory constraints.
I
Innovate
we select and design treatment systems that match your flows and efficiencies without overengineering.
F
Follow Through
we deliver consent packs, oversee installation, conduct performance validation and supply compliance reports.
T
Team Up
we work with your production, operations and maintenance teams to ensure seamless integration and handover.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Do all industrial sites require trade waste permits or resource consents?
Yes, most industrial discharges require a trade waste permit and often a resource consent, depending on contaminant loads and receiving environment.
How long does designing and consenting take?
Timeframe varies by scale and complexity, often several months including reporting, stakeholder engagement and consent review.
Can you improve my existing plant's performance?
Yes, we perform detailed audits and tests to identify underperformance and recommend upgrades or modifications.
What happens if my discharge limits change?
We support you through re-consenting, adjustments to treatment and revalidation to meet new standards.
Is ongoing compliance monitoring required?
Because most consents require ongoing reporting and sampling, we provide full support to keep you compliant.