Sewage seepage at Haruru Falls industrial estate

A partial blockage in a sewer main on the corner of State Highway 11 and Haruru Falls Bridge Road has caused around 10.5 cubic metres of sewage to seep from a manhole adjacent to a small industrial estate nearby.


The incident was reported to Far North District Council contractors yesterday afternoon at 3.15pm and the seepage was contained immediately.


Council water and wastewater operations manager Jim Brooks said it was not known exactly when the seepage from the manhole started, although he estimated about 10.5 cubic metres of sewage could have seeped from the manhole based on a calculation over three weeks.


The council had implemented its agreed notification procedures and had advised the people on its notification lists yesterday afternoon, leaving messages in situations where people were not available to speak to.


As a precautionary measure, on the advice of Northland Health, signs warning against swimming for seven days and collecting shellfish for 28 days have been erected at the Panorama Campground and the Waitangi boatramp. It was expected these warnings could be lifted once water quality tests were completed and assessed.


“However it is always better to err on the side of caution when potential public health issues are involved,” Chief Executive Clive Manley said. “Clearly this is a situation we would have preferred not to happen and we are sorry for the impact it has had on shellfish gatherers and swimmers in the area.”


Mr Brooks said the blockage was believed to have been caused by root intrusion and would be followed-up with maintenance work on the sewer main.