Source consents for the Kurow and Otematata sewage treatment plants will come under Environment Canterbury scrutiny at an Oamaru hearing this week.
The council has applied to Environment Canterbury (ECan) to renew both the Otematata and Kurow plant operating consents.
Application to renew the Kurow plant consent was filed in December, 2005.
The Otematata application was filed in May last year.
The council wants to dispose of treated effluent at Otematata in a different way.
ECan appointed a two-member hearings panel of consultant planner Emma Christmas and Environment Canterbury member Bronwen Murray, of South Canterbury, to consider the applications on April 8 and 9.
Waitaki Council assets group manager Neil Jorgensen said the Kurow application was to renew the consent for the town's plant.
The council had a consent through to 2038 to operate the Otematata plant, but wanted to change the disposal method from the treatment plant, so had applied for a new one.
The existing consent allows treated waste water to be irrigated on to land at the treatment plant, which sits between SH83 and the Otematata boat harbour.
In winter, the ground freezes and irrigation cannot be used.
Now the council plans to discharge the treated effluent into underground trenches, similar to the method used with septic tanks.
