Untreated, unscreened wastewater has been discharged into Tarakena Bay. Check LAWA.org.nz before visiting beaches.
Untreated, unscreened wastewater has been discharged into Tarakena Bay. Check LAWA.org.nz before visiting beaches.

Between approximately 8 am on 25 June and 7 am on 26 June, the short outfall pipe discharged untreated wastewater into Tarakena Bay.

Signs are in place along the coastline to alert water users of areas which may be impacted by this event. Water quality samples will be collected from coastal locations once improved weather conditions allow. 

Check LAWA.org.nz before visiting beaches along the south coast. 

Public health information can be found on Health NZ's website. 
Wellington Water crews responding to wastewater overflow on State Highway 2
Wellington Water crews responding to wastewater overflow on State Highway 2

Our team is responding to a wastewater overflow on State Highway 2 which has stopped this afternoon. The overflow was from a manhole on the southbound lanes close to the Ngauranga exit, discharging into the habour through the stormwater drains.

While the overflow has stopped, our teams are working to clear a blockage which still remains. They are working at pace to identify the blockage and get this cleared. 

One southbound lane clasure remains in place approaching Ngauranga while work is underway.
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Your Water / The Network / Wastewater / Looking After Your Wastewater

Looking after your wastewater

Whenever you flush a toilet, have a shower, or unplug a sink, that water flows through your plumbing and into the public wastewater network. 

It's important that we all look after our wastewater network to avoid blockages. These blockages can cause harm to our environment, and take time and money to fix.

FACT: the two most common things that cause blockages in the wastewater network are cooking oil and wet wipes

 

Here's how you can keep the network flowing...

 

Dos

  • Choose environmentally friendly washing machine detergents.
  • Make sure gutters and down pipes are connected to stormwater drains (not wastewater). If connected to the wastewater system, wastewater overflows can occur.
  • If public wastewater pipes pass through your property make sure access to these pipes is not restricted by retaining walls or garden sheds.
  • Maintain your wastewater drainage system in good condition. Leaking pipes can block and be a public health risk.
  • Check before you dig! Damaging public wastewater pipes which pass through your property can be messy -and costly.

Don'ts

  • Don't put your coffee grounds down the sink - always put them in the compost or bin
  • Don't flush wet wipes, tampons, sanitary pads, nappies, cloth, hair and other non-biodegradable material down the toilet. When sent into the wastewater network these things can lump together to create a rag monster, and block the pipes!
  • Don't pour motor oil, fuels, solvents or highly toxic substances into the gully trap – dispose of these items safely.
  • Don't plant trees or shrubs on your property within 1.5 metres of buried wastewater pipelines – tree roots can damage the pipes and can cost you a lot in repair bills.
  • Don't pour fats and oils down your sink. Instead, clean your pan with a paper towel, or let it cool before disposing in the bin or reusing another day. Fats and oils can create fatbergs (a rock-like mass of waste matter) that block pipes!

Grease Trap Information Sheets

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