Media Release

20 September 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Quick work limits pollution of Waiwhetu Stream

An investigation carried out by Greater Wellington Regional Council has found that prompt responses from the public, a local business and authorities helped limit pollution of Waiwhetu Stream following accidental discharge of bright purple trade waste.

Invasive tree roots and a cracked pipe in the sewer system caused purple paint waste from the Resene Paints Limited factory to enter the stormwater system and the Waiwhetu Stream in Naenae earlier this year.

The Regional Council’s Manager, Environmental Regulation, Alistair Cross says reports from the public, investigations by officers from Hutt City Council and Capacity Infrastructure Services Limited and immediate action taken by Resene Paints Limited helped manage a very unfortunate incident.

“Thanks to the quick reports from the public, Hutt City Council’s trade waste officer was able to confirm the likely source of the discharge. Staff from Resene and Capacity could then immediately investigate how the wastewater entered the stormwater network.”

Investigations showed that a tree root blockage in a council sewer pipe caused the wastewater to back up and escape through a crack in the sewer pipe near the Resene factory. It then seeped through the soil into the public stormwater system which discharges into the stream.

“Hutt City Council, Capacity and Resene worked together to identify and fix the problem. We are satisfied that a series of unforeseen events that caused this incident and that no fault was lies with Resene. In fact we commend them for their prompt and thorough actions to stop the discharge and find the cause and also for their help with our investigations afterwards.

Hutt City Council and Resene have undertaken work on the sewer and stormwater systems to ensure that such an incident does not occur again.

ENDS