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Fat and rags blockage causes overflow

Local News Public Notice
PUBLISHED: 3 JUN 2022
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Fat and rags blockage causes overflow

A blockage cause by fat and rags, including wipes and paper towels, has caused a wastewater overflow from a manhole on Pembroke Street in Westown yesterday.

The overflow went into the Waimea Stream, which feeds Huatoki Stream.

We’re sorry this has occurred and we’ve been in touch with iwi and hapū, Taranaki Regional Council, the Taranaki District Health Board and other recreational users.

Warning signs have gone up advising people not to swim or gather kai (for 28 days) in affected areas.

This is the second overflow caused by a blockage in recent weeks, with one occurring in Waitara last month.

Fatbergs and blockages are a significant problem for NPDC’s wastewater system, with the team sometimes clearing blockages weekly. It costs ratepayers around $100,000 a year to clear these blockages and send it to dumps in the ground called landfills.

Fat, rags – including clothing, cloth and sanitary products - and wet wipes among the most common things we find blocking pump stations and pipes.

We are investing $248m over 10 years to fix the district’s plumbing.

Keep up with the latest information on the Can I Swim page on our website.

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Page last updated: 08:08am Fri 03 June 2022

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