Media Release

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday 4 March
PO BOX 747, Gisborne 4040, +64 6 867 2049 www.gdc.govt.nz

Fat led to overflow

Built up fat that blocked wastewater pipes near Worsley Street caused a small amount of sewage to overflow into the Wainui Steam on Saturday.

Contractors were called in to remove the blockage and contain the contamination. The area around the stream was also been taped off for safety.

“The response from utilities and Fulton Hogan was excellent,” says shared services science manager Lois Easton.

The sewage was contained and a sucker truck brought in to remove the wastewater.

Council’s utilities team also pumped clean water into the stream to reduce any adverse effect on tuna (eels) and fish in the stream.

The plug of fat caused wastewater to build up and the pressure forced the manhole open at Steele Road Pump Station which let wastewater out into the stream.

The defective manhole was then sealed off completely last year after wastewater was found overflowing into the stream.

“The incident is a genuine emergency and was unable to be prevented,” says Ms Easton.

Water samples were taken after the incident and have been compared to the weekly water testing being carried out as part of the Wanui Stream water quality improvement project.

Based on the results, the containment and clean-up achieved a high level of success with a low impact on the environment and aquatic life.

The water in the stream is always very poor quality and not safe for swimming or safe for stock drinking water.

“It’s been like this for a long time,” says Ms Easton.

As an urban stream it also receives run-off from roads and residential properties as well as some rural areas.

Run off can contain bacteria from green-waste and animals, as well as hydrocarbons and metals from the road.

The stream has a very low summer flow meaning that these things can concentrate in the water.

The geology of the land around Sponge Bay is sulphurous so smell and discharge can come through from groundwater.

There’s also the potential for contaminated stormwater from properties.

Ms Easton says there are a number of solutions Council staff are looking at to improve the water quality in the stream but there’s no easy fix.

Storage needed for pump station

At yesterday’s Future Tairawhiti meeting Council discussed concerns for the growing pressure on the Steele Road Pump station.

The pump station doesn’t have the capacity for the stormwater that gets into the wastewater system from properties in the area.

An upgrade of the station will now start sooner than planned, before the end of the financial year.

Water Utilities manager, Neville West, requested budget from Council to be brought forward and approval for an additional emergency storage tank to be included in the upgrade.

“An emergency storage tank would provide increased protection during heavy rainfall and to protect the stream from the risk of discharges,” says Mr West.

The emergency storage is an estimated $415,000 that is currently not budgeted for.

The station is at a high risk for overflows, for the health of the stream and community, every effort will be made to avoid a discharges.

The upgrade of the pump station and improvements we can make to maintenance of the stream will help towards better water quality and less discharges.

Cooperation from the community is needed to help look after the quality of the stream and ensure our wastewater system can work as it should.

We remind people:

Don’t dump food scraps, green-waste, or chemicals into any stream.

Don’t tip fats, wipes or solid objects down sinks, drains or gully traps.

ENDS

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