Hynds Environmental Ltd was established in 2001 as a boutique provider of stormwater and wastewater treatment solutions.

Their team of engineers has developed a range of treatment technologies over the years, and is a market leader in this field. In particular, the Hynds Lifestyle Domestic Wastewater Treatment System ranks in the top four of all systems tested at the On-site Effluent Treatment National Testing Program (OSET-NTP).

Hynds Environmental is now fully integrated into Hynds Pipe Systems Ltd with dedicated environmental practitioners, supported by a raft of engineers strategically located throughout the country.

Rod Murray, Hynds Environmental Chief Engineer, explains that his team’s primary goal is to provide appropriate water management technologies; to help customers meet their compliance requirements; preserve the receiving environment and natural resources; and avoid wasting precious water resources: “We are providing a key need of our society”, explains Rod.

“That of treating stormwater run-off, wastewater, and liquid wastes, so that rather than damage the environment, the water can be safely re-applied to the land.” The company was originally created to provide sustainable wastewater treatment practices for private residences, and small communities that did not have a formal sewage treatment process.

They quickly progressed to include the provision of stormwater and industrial waste treatment solutions for the commercial and industrial sector: “We work with farms, marinas, industrial sites, supermarkets, restaurants – anywhere there’s water-borne waste”, sums up Rod.

Because each client has different needs, Hynds Environmental ensures that the appropriate technology is specified and designed for each project. Customisation is essential if water management systems are to be effective, but cost can be a major issue for clients. “Customers often want to be able to buy “off-the-shelf” systems, but the problem is that every site and each waste stream is subtly different”, explains Rod. “So, in order to reduce costs, we have devised or supplied internationally developed and proven modular systems that can be deployed with only minor modifications as required.”

For instance, one of Hynds’ Auckland Council TP10 compliant stormwater treatment devices can support one to six treatment (filter) modules within a single precast concrete manhole, with that system being able to treat the run-off from a small catchment of up to 3500m2 in area.

For larger catchments, Hynds has a host of single and multi-chamber solutions with a range of different internal processes to suit the type of stormwater/industrial water contaminant, and the volume of rainfall derived material expected.

“We’re trying to put in the most cost-effective solutions with the best outcome with regard to installation and long-term maintenance costs. Understanding whole of life cost is an important customer requirement and Hynds Environmental “gets” this”.

Hynds engineers are constantly looking at the international scene to learn about new and emerging technologies, and to stay ahead of the latest philosophy in terms of catchment performance and associated conveyance and treatment devices.

“The industry focus was originally on conveying flows resulting from a range of rainfall events. Then on removing suspended solids within rainfall run-off, and next was the removal of heavy metals. Now stormwater treatment focus is shifting towards removing other particulate-bound pollutants such as hydrocarbons, nitrogen and phosphorus.

“This is where we’ll be going in the future”, states Rod. Hynds is an active attendee of all national and relevant Australasian forums to encourage participating organisations to understand and operate to industry accepted standards.

“Water as a resource is going to become the biggest issue for our planet in immediate and future years”, concludes Rod. “So we have to understand the technology that’s required to preserve our finite natural and physical resources for future generations. Our legacy is not only to be a commercially viable business success, but to also be a water management guardian of New Zealand as a nation and a society.”