Regional council responds to foamy discharge

Waikato Regional Council on-call staff are responding to reports of a foamy substance discharging from Hamilton’s stormwater system into the Waikato River.

The regional council is advising people who take water from the river immediately downstream of the site to exercise caution until the substance is identified.

The council was first contacted about 11am today (Sunday 28 April) by concerned members of the public who spotted the discharge from a pipe at the northern end of the golf course in St Andrews.

While the discharge appears to be detergent-based, there are a number of samples which have been collected by staff for analysis. Results are expected to be available later in the day tomorrow.

In the meantime, the council is working with Hamilton City Council staff to identify the source of the discharge. The stormwater pipe has so far been traced to the Te Rapa industrial area.

Any members of the public with information which might help investigators is urged to contact Waikato Regional Council on 0800 800 401.

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