Leak in Katikati Outfall sewer pipe
Update: Friday 02 September
The leak in the pipe was repaired on Thursday night.
We advise everyone to continue to follow instructions and not consume any shellfish or swim in the water until advised otherwise.
Please remember this is fully treated wastewater. It has been through the treatment plant process including ultraviolet light treatment.
Update: Friday 26 August
We've located the leak from the Katikati Wastewater Treatment Plant outfall pipe.
Yesterday the team added dye to the treated water discharge and used a drone to locate the leak and it worked. We have a good idea of where the leak is.
The pipe is around 3m deep which will make it very difficult and dangerous to repair. We have arranged for divers to go in on Tuesday (due to tidal conditions), to explore how bad the leak is and also ascertain what is required to do the repair. The work is weather and tide-dependent.
Until then, our signage will remain at the waters edge. Please remember not to consume any shellfish or swim in the water until this has been resolved.
Also, this is fully treated wastewater. It has been through the treatment plant process including ultraviolet light treatment.
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A leak of treated wastewater has been reported in the Katikati Outfall sewer pipe.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s Katikati Wastewater treatment plant discharges its wastewater through a pipeline route from the Prospect Drive treatment plant across Tauranga Harbour to off Matakana Island.
Council is working with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Toi Te Ora Public Health, and our iwi partners to locate and fix the leak.
“We will be adding dye to the effluent before putting drones up to see if we can spot the leak. We plan to do this as soon as possible but this is weather dependent,” says Council’s Acting Group Manager Infrastructure Group, EJ Wentzel.
“We also want to emphasise that this wastewater has been treated, and it has been through the ultraviolet light treatment process already.”
Warning signs are being put up at the water’s edge to let our Western Bay whānau know not to consume any shellfish or swim in the water until the leak has been resolved.
Further updates will be provided when they are available.