Published: 11 August 2026
We caught up with the team at new council-owned water organisation Tiaki Wai to find out about some of good work they are doing for Lower Hutt. This is a story about one of those things as provided and written by Tiaki Wai.
The two new sludge dryers for Seaview Wastewater Treatment Plant are currently being manufactured in Germany and expected to be ready for transportation by the end of August 2026.
These dryers replace the current dryer which is ageing and prone to breakdowns. They will significantly reduce the risk of odour from the plant, by reducing the volume of sludge sent to landfill (the dryer dries and compacts wet sludge) and minimising the occurrence of breakdowns (and the subsequent need to transport wet sludge to landfill, which generates odour).
The dryers have their own odour management system, which is separate to the plant’s overall odour management system. Having two dryers also allows repairs and maintenance to be done on one dryer, while keeping the other operating.
The equipment manufacturing is only one part of the project. In parallel, we’re preparing the ground (i.e. compacting etc.) for a building that will be constructed to house the dryers. Crews are working at pace and on extended hours to complete the project as soon as possible, with the new dryers expected to be operational by the end of 2027.
Huber Technology Wastewater solutions are manufacturing the dryers in Berching, south of Nuremberg in Germany. The dryer technology uses a convective heating technique to dry and compact sludge. Air heated by heat exchanges is passed through the dryer through fans and dries the sludge.
Huber is one of only a limited number of suppliers globally who can provide the specialist equipment required, with no option to manufacture locally.
The project is a significant boost for local businesses and the community. There are 19 New Zealand suppliers and subcontractors involved. This supports business growth by providing new work, and increasing demand for local businesses such as cafes, and accommodation providers.
To check out the current job map from Tiaki Wai visit their job status page