Overflow in Wastewater Treatment Plant inlet
2 October 2022
Overflow in Wastewater Treatment Plant inlet
Council was alerted to a wastewater overflow in the Wastewater Treatment Plant inlet this morning. The inlet screen has been partially blocked by objects that shouldn’t be in the wastewater system (ie, wipes, rags, sanitary products) and this, combined with the significant rainfall we have experienced over the past couple of days, has caused the partial blockage, resulting in the overflow.
The blockage has now been repaired and the overflow was stopped at 11am.
While much of the overflow was contained at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, some has gone into a drain that leads into the lower Puarenga Stream near Sulphur Point where it enters the lake. Signage will be in place around the affected area, advising people against contact with the water in case of contamination and Council will be taking water samples to check for contamination.
The relevant authorities – Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Toi Te Ora Public Health – have been notified. Relevant iwi representatives have also been notified.
Rotorua residents are again urged to remain vigilant about what they’re putting down their sinks, drains and toilets. Cleaning wipes and other materials should be disposed of in the rubbish bin. Even products that are supposedly ‘flushable’ according to the packaging can result in significant issues for our wastewater infrastructure and more importantly for our environment.