People are being advised to avoid contact with lakes and streams in Rotorua after a treated wastewater overflow amid heavy rain.
Rotorua Lakes Council says an urgent response is under way at the Rotorua Wastewater Treatment Plant on Te Ngae Rd following this morning’s overflow.
The incident comes one week after a wastewater overflow near Lake Rotorua, and days after a water main burst in the city, damaging a theatre.
The council was alerted by contractors about 11.30am today of a break in a wastewater pipe, council group manager for infrastructure and assets Stavros Michael said in a statement this afternoon.
He said teams from the council, wastewater management contractor Trility, and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council “responded immediately to work to contain the overflow, provide advice, and carry out urgent repairs”.
“This is a developing situation, and an investigation is under way to determine the scope of the break and the extent of any contamination due to the leak from the pipe.”
As a standard precaution following heavy rainfall, the public is advised to avoid contact with lakes and streams for at least 48 hours, the statement said.
During this time, sampling and testing will be conducted to determine the impact of the leak.
Michael said relevant authorities, including mana whenua, Te Arawa Lakes Trust, and the Toi Te Ora Public Health, had been notified.
He said the council understood this was “concerning for our community and iwi partners” and it would continue providing updates as the situation developed.
The council’s website said the city’s drinking water system was not affected.
Other pipe breaks
Last week, a large wastewater pressure pipe was damaged while work was being carried out near Rotorua’s Waikuta Stream, resulting in a wastewater overflow.
The council has said the overflow was stopped, with seven sucker trucks removing wastewater, and the damage to the rising main was repaired.
Daily water sampling of the stream and the nearby Lake Rotorua area was ongoing after the November 11 spill.
Rotorua Lakes Council said yesterday the latest available results showed E. coli levels were improving, but were not within recommended contact levels.
People were warned not to have contact with water in the area.
On Thursday last week, a water main on Amohau St burst, flooding the Shambles Theatre.