Bell Block spill contained

27 August 2015
About 200 to 300 litres of synthetic drilling mud is being removed from the Mangati stormwater treatment system at Bell Block after a spill yesterday.

The Taranaki Regional Council worked with the company responsible for the spill to deploy booms and absorbent pads to contain the mud in the stormwater ponds, and are using a skimmer to recover the material.

As well as the mud contained in the stormwater ponds, a larger quantity was contained in the company’s yard after the spill, and has since been cleaned up by the company.

The company notified the Taranaki Regional Council of the spill. The cause is being investigated.

The Taranaki Regional Council’s Director-Resource Management, Fred McLay, says the incident demonstrates the value of the New Plymouth District Council’s investment in the system of stormwater detention ponds at Mangati.

“We are still analysing and assessing water samples, but because the material was able to be contained in the ponds, the environmental effects on the Mangati Stream are very likely to have been minimal,” he says.

Mr McLay says the Taranaki Regional Council’s monitoring has shown significant improvement in the health of the Mangati Stream in recent years, and the stormwater ponds are undoubtedly a factor in this.

ends

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