Source: Radio New Zealand
RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Experts say it is safe to swim at beaches in the capital’s harbour, but Wellingtonians are taking a cautious approach.
Nearly a week ago, the Moa Point Treatment Plant started pumping raw sewage into the ocean off the south coast after it completely failed early Wednesday morning.
The following Thursday evening, the raw sewage was diverted from being dumped near the coast to a 1.8-kilometre outfall pipe.
Wellington Water had warned it may need to use the short outfall pipe if it were to rain in the city.
There was no evidence to suggest sewage was reaching the city’s inner harbour, but at Oriental Bay most people RNZ spoke to thought locals were being careful around the water.
Keita said there was nobody on the beach when normally it would be “a shocker”.
“People would be everywhere, especially this whole sand beach would be full of people.”
She would “definitely reconsider” swimming in the area despite there not being current warnings about entering the water there.
“I think everyone has their own little mindsets on it I guess you could say.”
Munroe said people would continue to be cautious until there was a fix for the sewage plant.
LAWA said people should monitor their website for the latest risk assessments for beaches people were planning to swim at.
“These predictions are based on a combination of environmental conditions such as rainfall along with the swim spot monitoring history.
“This afternoon, there are dozens of beaches in the region that are predicted to be suitable for swimming.”
Auckland University professor Karin Bryan said based on the evidence she would swim there.
“Because it is incredibly high delusion rates and I’m pretty sure that LAWA and the council is being really, really careful to make sure the advice is really sound.
“So, I would definitely trust them.”
Bryan said Cook Strait had extremely strong currents which would likely keep the inner harbour unaffected.
Calypso Science was a New Plymouth based oceanography research company, with a focus on coastal currents.
It created a model of Wellington’s south coast after the news of the Moa Point sewage plant failure.
Supplied / Calypso Science
Physical oceanographer Remy Zyngfogel told RNZ based on that work, the sewage was not seeming to flow into the inner harbour.
“I didn’t see anything near Lower Hutt, it is mainly concentrated near Lyall Bay and Ōwhiro Bay.”
Wellington Mayor Andrew Little has called for an independent inquiry into the sewage plant failure.
Separately to that, Greater Wellington Regional Council would be investigating the matter as the water regulator for the region.
“As the discharge from Moa Point is currently a live event, we are unable to comment further on the discharge or the details of our investigation.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
