Blockages cause wastewater overflows
Monday 15 August
Sampling of waterways since the weekend's wastewater overflows in Beryl Place and Alison Street show decreasing levels of e-coli.
Temporary health warnings remain in place for the meantime and sampling will continue.
The overflows were caused by wet wipes, fat and rags causing blockages in sewerage pipes and residents are reminded to not put these items down their sinks, toilets and drains to prevent avoidable overflows that can pose a health and environmental risk.
Saturday 13 August
Rotorua residents are reminded to please not put wet wipes, fat and rags down sinks, drains and toilets following two unrelated wastewater overflows today.
Both incidents, in Beryl Place and Alison Street, were caused by manholes overflowing due to blockages caused by wet wipes, fat and rags.
These items cause blockages in the system and can also become fatbergs (fat and other non-biodegradable solids that join to become one large mass).
Today’s overflows follow three other incidents this year which were caused by fatbergs.
The overflow in Beryl Place involved a small amount of wastewater but some entered a nearby drain that flows into the Mangakakahi Stream which, in turn, flows into the Utuhina Stream.
A smaller overflow in Alison Street was in a different branch of the sewage network but a small amount reached a drain that also flows into the Mangakakahi Stream.
Temporary health warning signs have been erected in several places to warn people against contact with the water in case of contamination. Samples have been taken and the results of these should be known tomorrow but sampling will continue until the all clear can be given for the waterways, Rotorua Lakes Council Infrastructure Networks Performance Manager Eric Cawte says.
“We believe the two incidents are unrelated although they were coincidentally at around the same time and caused by the same problem,” Mr Cawte says.
The incident in Beryl Place was reported to Rotorua Lakes Council by a member of the public just after 11am and contractors were finishing the clean-up there when they were contacted about the overflow in Alison Street.
Contractors who responded to the calls cleaned and disinfected the sites of the overflows and found and cleared the blockages that caused them. Both sites will be monitored and further water samples will be taken from the Mangakakahi and Utuhina streams.
The relevant authorities – Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Toi Te Ora Public Health – have been notified. Relevant iwi representatives are also routinely notified of such incidents.
Mr Cawte says today’s incidents serve as another reminder to people to understand the damage that can be done by putting the wrong things down their sinks, toilets and drains.
“Fatbergs and blockages caused by the likes of fat, wet wipes, rags and tissues create a back-up of sewage in the pipeline and manholes become the overflow point,” Mr Cawte explains.
“Today’s incidents were confined to small areas, reducing the potential public health and environmental risk, but we urge people to please remain vigilant about what they’re putting down their sinks, drains and toilets.”
While faults in the city’s large wastewater network are inevitable, overflows such as those which occurred today are largely avoidable.
Mr Cawte says even products that packaging indicates are ‘flushable’ can result in significant issues for our wastewater infrastructure and more importantly for our environment.
“We need everybody in the community to do their bit to avoid blockages. Keeping foreign substances and objects out of our system is the best way to do that.”
Info and facts:
- Wastewater comes from your kitchen and laundry sinks and appliances, from showers, baths and toilets.
- Get rid of cleaning wipes in the rubbish bin – don’t flush them.
- Let fat solidify and then dispose of it in the rubbish bin.
- Council owns and maintains approximately 500km of gravity mains, 8000 manholes and more than 20,000 homes and businesses are connected to the wastewater network.
- Items that have been found in our wastewater network include not just wet wipes and solidified fat but also children’s toys, cutlery, an oil can, building materials, a hedgehog and a pig’s head.