Illegal discharge found at Grey Street sewage pump station

Yet another illegal discharge to the sewage system has got Council staff wondering where it came from.

This time it was a light hydrocarbon, like kerosene, hydraulic fluid or turpentine. It was found at the Grey Street pump station, which means it would have come from the sewers around the south end of Grey Street or west along Awapuni Road.

“Fortunately it was able to be dealt with without causing any damage to the environment or the process at the wastewater treatment plant.” Says Neville West, Acting Water Utilities Manager.

“This kind of substance could be lethal for the biological trickling filter. Hydrocarbons are explosive and could lead to property damage, injury or even loss of life which could make this a criminal act.”

Discharging this kind of material into the sewer is illegal under the Trade Waste Bylaw.

Businesses who deal with any kind of hydrocarbons (oils, fuels, etc.) are required to have separators or collect the waste into an appropriate container for disposal or recycling to ensure that they don’t enter the wastewater system.

“We can’t stress how serious this matter is and only hope the perpetrators take heed of our warning.” Says West.

Mayor Meng Foon is concerned poisons like this could kill the life in the Waikanae creek and also have an effect in the Moana nui a Kiwa – Poverty bay.

Council would welcome any information people can provide and would treat the information in confidence.

ENDS

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