Capital’s streams ‘a public risk’
There’s something in the water in Wellington – with some of the capital’s streams having up to eight times the acceptable level of E coli.
E coli comes from the intestines of humans and animals, and it’s likely coming from leaking sewage pipes.
Forest & Bird regional lower North Island manager Tom Kay called the results disappointing.
‘‘These are our local streams – the streams that run through our backyards and parks. They flow into our harbour that we swim in.’’
Ministry for the Environment guidelines for recreational water set a threshold of 260 colonyforming units (cfu) for E coli per 100ml, and any higher reading carries a risk of infection.
But according to the Greater Wellington Regional Council website, the Kaiwharawhara Stream in Ngaio Gorge had an E coli reading of 1300 cfu/100ml at last reading in June this year.
The Karori Stream in Makara had a last reading of 2300 cfu/ 100ml in May this year – eight times over the guideline.
The Porirua Stream at the Milk Depot read 900 cfu/100ml in May, and the Waiwhetu read 800 cfu/100ml.
Kay said people shouldn’t have to drive half an hour to find a safe stream for kids to paddle in, or have to pay to visit a public pool because a local stream had sewage in it.
E coli counts in the Karori and Kaiwharawhara Stream proved they were ‘‘definitely not safe’’, he said.
A Ministry for the Environment spokeswoman said urban waterways were some of the most polluted in the country.
‘‘Urban stream pollution comes from stormwater runoff, sewage leaks and overflows.’’
However, it was up to regional councils to meet national direction for water quality, she said.
‘‘[The ministry] is concerned at the state of urban streams generally, not only these specific examples.’’
A Greater Wellington spokesman said the waterways close to central Wellington were highly vulnerable to contamination from the stormwater and wastewater systems.
A 2014 investigation identified human faecal contamination as the major source.
Wellington had old and ageing infrastructure, and wastewater and stormwater pipes were leaking, he said.