Wellington's leak of the week: Sewage leak takes out popular swimming hole
Sunday, 15 January 2023
Wellington Water has acknowledged that about 40% of the region’s water is disappearing in leaks. In many stories Stuff has highlighted the challenge facing councils due to historic under-investment in basic infrastructure. Over the coming weeks we will be highlighting ongoing leaks. This week's leak is not a water leak but a sewage leak that serves as a reminder of the impact leaks have on the environment.
A leak in the Foster Cres area in Belmont/Kelson was reported to Wellington Water (WW) and the Hutt City Council on January 8. It was located in a patch of bush known as Pareraho Forest, where an enthusiastic group of locals had put in thousands of hours eradicating weeds and pests, as well as creating a network of tracks.
Two streams run through it and it is popular with locals, who enjoy splashing around, as well swimming.
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One of the local volunteers helping to restore native bush is regional councillor Quentin Duthie, who posted a response from WW on what had been done to fix the leak.
“The team have advised that the wastewater overflow in Lillian St, Belmont, was resolved on 8 January 2023. We identified a blockage, cleared it and disinfected the site.”
WW noted that “further works are required” and a “new job will be raised via council and assigned to our service delivery team to action.”
On social media, users of the stream asked Duthie, when it would be safe to return to the stream and swim in it.
He replied: “There’s no testing, so it’s an educated guess when it is safe again. I’ll swim again in a few days after this rain ceases, but I suspect for every overflow or leak we observe, one goes unnoticed.”
A search on the Pareraho Forest social media page shows locals have been reporting the leaky manhole for months. Jamie Stewart, one of the volunteers looking after the area, reckons he first reported it more than two years ago.
“I wonder what we could do to get a permanent fix. Hutt City shouldn't really be allowed to repeatedly and knowingly pollute a waterway and scenic reserve,” he said.
It showed a lack of planning and commitment to replacing ageing and failing infrastructure, he said.
In this case, it is made worse because the stream is popular with locals and it flows into the Te Awa Kairangi/Hutt River.
WW fixed 525 leaks in December. Their priorities are to fix the leaks losing the most water first and all sewage leaks are a priority.
If you see a suspected wastewater leak causing pollution (ie. entering storm water or a stream), report it to Greater Wellington pollution hotline 0800496734 and your local council.
- With 40 per cent of Wellington's water seeping away through leaks, we're demanding action from authorities. Each week, we'll highlight the region's worst leaks. Email wellington@stuff.co.nz