And . . . another city pipe problem
Wellington’s pipes have failed again – this time pumping sewage into a marine sanctuary at levels 43 times higher than it is safe to swim in.
Wellington Water became aware of the contamination spike at Owhiro Bay on Wellington’s South Coast just before New Year’s Eve, and put up signs. But with swimmers still using the water, it admits it could have communicated better.
On one hand, it has told residents it is fixing the problem – likely caused by wastewater, including sewage, getting into stormwater – but on the other, it says it is still trying to find out what the problem actually is.
Water sampling for the enterococci bacteria – found in human faeces – is done daily at four sites around the bay. At one site, where the Owhiro Stream meets the sea, the reading hit 8600 colony-forming units per 100 millilitres of water on January 8.
Nearby readings were 7200 and 6800. Safe levels for swimming are 200 or below.
While the peak was on January 8, every day since has had one reading at do-not-swim levels.
Owhiro Bay is frequently polluted, with the culprit often being historic landfills up the valley leaching into the stream and on to the bay, which is part of the Taputeranga Marine Reserve.
But the latest high readings are directly related to human waste, and date back to at least New Year’s Day.
Wellington Water spokesman Alex van Paassen said its investigations had narrowed to ‘‘an area we believe there is a cross-contamination’’.
He would not reveal the site due to apparent privacy issues. ‘‘I think we could have done more to communicate with the community.’’
Local resident Eugene Doyle said people had become so blase about pollution in the bay – and signs warning of it – that they continued to swim there, unaware of the heightened risk.
‘‘They are big [bacteria] numbers on an ongoing basis.We want the city – Wellington Water and Greater Wellington Regional Council – to step up their efforts to resolve this.’’
Communication had been so lacking that some residents were unaware there was an issue.
In the leadup to Christmas Day, a wastewater pipe collapsed beneath Dixon St in the central city, and two swimming pools’ worth of wastewater leaked into the harbour. Part of Willis St will be closed until at least March.
‘‘They are big [bacteria] numbers on an ongoing basis.’’
Eugene Doyle, resident