The greater Wellington region, New Zealand, is highly vulnerable to large earthquakes. While attention has been paid to the consequences of earthquake damage to road, electricity and water supply networks, the consequences of wastewater network damage for public health, environmental health and habitability of homes remain largely unknown for Wellington City. The Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquakes have highlighted the vulnerability of sewerage systems to disruption during a disaster. Management of human waste is one of the critical components of disaster planning to reduce faecal-oral transmission of disease and exposure to disease-bearing vectors. In Canterbury and Kaikōura, emergency sanitation involved a combination of Port-a-loos, chemical toilets and backyard long-drops. While many lessons may be learned from experiences in Canterbury earthquakes, it is important to note that isolation is likely to be a much greater factor for Wellington households, compared to Christchurch, due to the potential for widespread landslides in hill suburbs affecting road access. This in turn implies that human waste may have to be managed onsite, as options such as chemical toilets and Port-a-loos rely completely on road access for delivering chemicals and collecting waste. While some progress has been made on options such as emergency composting toilets, significant knowledge gaps remain on how to safely manage waste onsite. In order to bridge these gaps, laboratory tests will be conducted through the second half of 2019 to assess the pathogen die-off rates in the composting toilet system with variables being the type of carbon bulking material and the addition of a Bokashi composting activator.
A photograph of Whole House Reuse item 127. This item was salvaged from 19 Admiral Way in New Brighton as part of the Whole House Reuse project.
A photograph of Whole House Reuse item 268. This item was salvaged from 19 Admiral Way in New Brighton as part of the Whole House Reuse project.
A thumbnail photograph of Whole House Reuse item 127, cropped for the catalogue. This item was salvaged from 19 Admiral Way in New Brighton as part of the Whole House Reuse project.
A thumbnail photograph of Whole House Reuse item 268, cropped for the catalogue. This item was salvaged from 19 Admiral Way in New Brighton as part of the Whole House Reuse project.
A worker poses with the truck he has been using to drain the septic tanks installed in front of Avonside properties to allow residents to use their toilets after the 4 September 2010 earthquake.
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "A residential property at 464 Avonside Drive. The holding tank in the garden means the inside toilet can be used, rather than relying on a Port-a-loo.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Kerrs Reach of the Avon River by the rowing clubs. Notice the fissures beyond the rowing clubs".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Decorated cones on the side of Kingsford Street in the Horseshoe Lake district. The cones are a cheerful contrast to the collecting tank for chemical toilets in the background".
A residential property at 4 Seabreeze Close in Bexley. The number four and 'Still here' have been spray-painted onto the front of the house. A portable toilet, road cones, and old tyres have been left on the section.
The lid of a septic tank that has been buried in the ground beside the footpath on Robson Avenue in Avonside. These tanks were installed in front of Avonside properties to allow residents to use their toilets after the 4 September 2010 earthquake.
The lids of septic tanks that have been buried in the ground beside the footpath on Robson Avenue in Avonside. These tanks were installed in front of Avonside properties to allow residents to use their toilets after the 4 September 2010 earthquake.
A section of the footpath on Galbraith Avenue in Avonside that has been covered in dirt. Behind it is one of the septic tanks that were installed in front of Avonside properties to allow residents to use their toilets after the 4 September 2010 earthquake.
The driveway of a section on Galbraith Avenue in Avonside that has been cracked by the 4 September 2010 earthquake. Behind it is one of the septic tanks that were installed in front of Avonside properties to allow residents to use their toilets after the earthquake.
A truck used to drain the septic tanks installed in front of Avonside properties to allow residents to use their toilets after the 4 September 2010 earthquake. The truck's operator has parked it beside the Avon River on Avonside Drive while he takes a break from working.
A truck used to drain the septic tanks installed in front of Avonside properties to allow residents to use their toilets after the 4 September 2010 earthquake. The truck's operator has parked it beside the Avon River on Avonside Drive while he takes a break from working.
A view down Maling Street in Avonside showing damage to the road surface and the footpath from the 4 September 2010 earthquake. Beside the footpath the blue lids of septic tanks can be seen. These tanks were installed in front of Avonside properties to allow residents to use their toilets after the September earthquake.
A view down Maling Street in Avonside showing a pile of discarded building rubble from one of the houses. Beside the footpath the blue lids of septic tanks can be seen. These tanks were installed in front of Avonside properties to allow residents to use their toilets after the September earthquake.
A view down Maling Street in Avonside showing a pile of discarded building rubble from one of the houses. Beside the footpath the blue lids of septic tanks can be seen. These tanks were installed in front of Avonside properties to allow residents to use their toilets after the September earthquake.
A view down Maling Street in Avonside showing damage to the road surface and the footpath from the 4 September 2010 earthquake. Beside the footpath the blue lids of septic tanks can be seen. These tanks were installed in front of Avonside properties to allow residents to use their toilets after the September earthquake.
A view down Maling Street in Avonside showing damage to the road surface and the footpath that has resulted from the 4 September 2010 earthquake. Beside the footpath the blue lids of septic tanks can be seen. These tanks were installed in front of Avonside properties to allow residents to use their toilets after the earthquake.
A view down Robson Avenue in Avonside showing damage to the road surface and the footpath that has resulted from the 4 September 2010 earthquake. On the left the blue lid of a septic tank can be seen. These tanks were installed in front of Avonside properties to allow residents to use their toilets after the September earthquake.
A section of footpath outside a property on Robson Avenue in Avonside from which the pavement has been removed due to damage from the 4 September 2010 earthquake. The lid of a buried septic tank can be seen in front of the property's front lawn. These tanks were installed in front of Avonside properties to allow residents to use their toilets after the September earthquake.
The University of Canterbury's E-Learning team's temporary office in the James Hight building. The photographer comments, "First looks at our new temporary (maybe) office space. Our group will stay here until April or May 2011, then will move to another floor in the Central Library. Common area. More offices run along the north wall at the left. Through the doors are the male toilets and a stair well".
A photograph of a portaloo outside a residential property in Christchurch. After the 22 February 2011 earthquake, many houses had no running water and were forced to use chemical toilets or portaloos placed along the street. There is flooding and liquefaction on the street in the foreground. Liquefaction silt has been piled on the side of the road and a road cone placed in front.
The University of Canterbury's E-Learning team's temporary office in the James Hight building. The photographer comments, "First looks at our new temporary (maybe) office space. Our group will stay here until April or May 2011, then will move to another floor in the Central Library. Foyer lifts etc. Female toilets are off the foyer to the left. These lifts start at Level 2 of the Library, and are heavily used by students. (Once the building is repaired after the earthquake; several floors are still in a mess)".