The Billion-dollar Flush by Wayne Erb is an engaging non-fiction text that takes students deep beneath Auckland to explore one of New Zealand’s largest and most ambitious infrastructure projects: the Central Interceptor wastewater tunnel. Through clear explanations, diagrams, and real-world voices from engineers, geologists, and environmental advisors, students learn how science, technology, and engineering work together to solve complex urban and environmental problems.

This text supports students to build strong comprehension of complex informational texts, interpret technical vocabulary, and analyse how authors use structure, diagrams, and real examples to explain sophisticated ideas. The text also encourages critical thinking about sustainability, population growth, and human impact on waterways, helping students connect learning to real issues in Aotearoa New Zealand. This text is ideal for inquiry learning, STEM integration, and discussions about future-focused solutions for growing cities.

Thanks to the Ministry of Education for producing this text. 

Key words include: Aotearoa New Zealand, Auckland, Central Interceptor, diagrams, engineering, engineers, environmental impact, flooding, geotechnical engineering, geologists, groundwater, infrastructure, informational text, pipes, pollution, population growth, pumps, sewerage, sewerage networks, sewage, sewers, STEM, stormwater, sustainability, technical vocabulary, technology, treatment plants, tunnel-boring machine, tunnels, urban growth, water systems, waterways, wastewater.