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Fat and rags lead to wastewater overflow

Lifestyle Local News Our Work Public Notice
PUBLISHED: 5 SEP 2022

Fat and rags lead to wastewater overflow

An overflow of wastewater into a New Plymouth stream yesterday was caused by fat and rags blocking a pipe. The overflow from a manhole on Roto Street started at 11am yesterday and ceased two hours later, with wastewater reaching the Mangaotuku Stream.

NPDC has sanitised the site and erected warning signs against swimming and collecting kai.

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

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

You can help prevent similar blockages in our wastewater system:

  • Do not put food grease down the sink or the toilet. Instead, wait for it to cool then scrape it into newspaper and pop it into your green food-scraps bin.
  • Flush only pee, poo and toilet paper. All other items, including tampons, sanitary pads and wet-wipes, go in the red landfill bin.

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