Bird poo puts council on notice

Bird poo is causing problems at the Masterton District Council’s wastewater treatment plant. The council was served an abatement notice by the Greater Wellington Regional Council in August following a number of high E coli readings from samples in the Homebush wastewater treatment ponds. At a recent audit and risk committee meeting, corporate planner Tania Madden explained the problem.‘‘Just to clarify, it was not wastewater discharge it was related to, but it was the level of E coli in our ponds. Staff are looking into it, have upped testing regimes and expanded testing to other sites, but believe it is in relation to waterfowl,’’ she said. ‘‘There have been an increased number of birds at the ponds, so we’re just working through that one at the moment.’’She said Canada geese and paradise ducks were likely the main culprits.