Water contact ban following sewage spill and storm contamination
1 February 2018
Today’s storm surge and king tide weather event has caused a failure at the Beach Road Sewerage Pump Station in
Richmond, sewage overflows at Monaco and general contamination from stormwater run-off.
This has resulted in an overflow of untreated sewage and stormwater contaminants into Nelson Haven and Waimea Estuary.
The public is advised not to swim or have water contact at Waimea Estuary and the Haven, including Tahunanui Beach,
until further notice.
The Nelson Marlborough District Health Board Public Health Service, Ministry for Primary Industries (Fisheries),
Department of Conservation, pollution control officials and local iwi are being notified of the spill.
Council reminds residents that due to the geography and proximity to urban areas shellfish should not be taken from
within the enclosed waters of the Waimea Inlet and the Nelson Haven at any time as they may exceed maximum
microbiological guideline levels.
Ends