Wasterwater spill closes popular swimming spot in Taupō

Wednesday, 10 January 2018

An unknown amount of wastewater has flowed into Lake Taupō, closing the popular swimming spot of Acacia Bay. 

The spill was caused by contractors who failed to restart a pump following routine checks on Tuesday. 

The failure caused an unknown quantity of material to flow into the lake at the stormwater outlet off Wily Terrace.

Signs were put up warning people not to swim in the bay but those on the northern side of the bay were removed on Wednesday following tests.

However, a temporary health warning and signage would remain in the southern part of the bay, and by the boat ramp, due to elevated bacterial levels, Taupō District Council said in a statement.

More sampling would be done on Wednesday with results due on Thursday.

Chief executive Gareth Green said the results showed samples taken at the stormwater outlet off Wily Terrace, and north and south of the site, were all under the limits set by public health for recreational swimming, allowing for the temporary health warning to be lifted in those areas.

However, samples taken from the next bay further south and at the boat ramp were showing elevated levels so the warning and signage will remain.

Earlier, Green said they were 'incredibly upset' that human error caused the spill.

'We acknowledge that human error does happen from time-to-time however, as the lake's water quality is one of the most important parts of our business, we will be doing what we can to make sure it doesn't happen again.' 

Green said it was an 'unfortunate and unacceptable' situation. 

A debrief would be held with the contractors to ensure appropriate measures were put in place to stop any future incidents, he said.