Land and water pollution
Pollution news and updates
- Top 7 pollution incidents attended by ARC Pollution Response Officers 1 June 2009 - 1 June 2010
- Recent updates
Top 7 pollution incidents attended by ARC Pollution Response Officers 1 June 2009 - 1 June 2010
Pollutant effects
Sewer Related Wastewater
Nutrients such as phosphates, nitrates and those contained in domestic sewage promote the uncontrolled growth of plant and bacteria populations within the aquatic environment. Waterways can be choked with weeds or depleted of oxygen by unnaturally high populations of micro-organisms.
Dirt/Inert Minerals/Sediment
Prevents light from entering water, making it difficult for animals to breathe or find food and for plants to get energy. It builds up on the stream bed smothering stream life. Sediment can carry other chemicals toxic to animals and plants such as zinc and copper that build up in the environment. It irritates, clogs and destroys the gills of fish.
Paint, Ink & Dye
Can all be poisonous to creatures that come in contact with them. They prevent light from entering the water, making it difficult for plants to get the energy they need to live and for animals to find food.
Hydrocarbons (fuels and solvents)
Damage fish gills so they can't breathe, poison animals and burn plants. They contain cancer-causing agents that build up in fish and shellfish. Petrol and its vapours are a major fire and explosion hazard, especially in confined spaces such as stormwater pipes. The heavier components of these hydrocarbons accumulate in the bed sediments of a water body.
Other chemicals
These can consist of any combination of pollutants and are often attributed to activities such as vehicle and equipment washing. Contaminants such as detergents, metals, solvents, degreasers and other residues are all part of this category and can all significantly harm wildlife and negatively impact the quality of our waterways.
Hydrocarbons (Waste Oil)
Poisons plants and animals. It forms an oily layer on the surface of water, which prevents oxygen and sunlight from entering the water. This makes it difficult for animals to breathe and find food and for plants to get energy to live and grow.
Concrete Wastewater
Concrete wastewater raises the pH level of waterways it enters. Levels of pH outside the natural range damage sensitive tissues such as eyes, gills and skin, make it impossible for juvenile creatures to survive and burn or kill mature fish, plants and insects.
Recent updates
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14-16 April 2010 - along with volunteers from other teams within Regulatory Services the Pollution Response Team undertook the largest ever Pollution Awareness Exercise (PAE) in New Lynn on Portage Road and the surrounding area. A letter had previously been sent out to all businesses advising of the exercise sometime in April, over 130 sites were audited with staff looking for potential and actual pollution issues. The results were generally good with most business complying with the RMA throughout their operations. The results have been collated and a report has been written. |
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Throughout March and April 2010, the Pollution Response Team have been dealing with what appears to be waste oil discharging from a stormwater outlet into a stream off Greenmount Drive, East Tamaki. Containment has been placed in the stream and the team regularly undertake clean-ups. Pollution Response Officers have had no success tracing the source which has been made more difficult due to the deep stormwater lines. Staff have talked to several businesses in the area. During these investigations the team was informed of a sucker truck discharging to the stormwater lines and found a large amount of oil in a stormwater catchpit. A clean-up and flushing of the lines was organised. The responsible party has not yet been identified despite studying local CCTV coverage. It is unconfirmed whether this illegal dumping is the cause of the long term discharges as they still continue. Further investigations are still underway. |
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10 March 2010 - the Pollution Response Team (PRT) attended a major eel kill in the Puhinui Stream, Papatoetoe. At the time no evidence of a discharge could be found and tests revealed no contaminants in the stream. Manuakau City Council and Waicare removed an estimated 350 dead eels. The PRT conducted investigation in the stormwater catchment area immediately after the incident and the following week. At the time of the incident a local business was found to have spilled oil into a stormwater catchpit but this was not believed to be the cause. The following week a site of concrete works site was identified with discharges to the stormwater system. Local catchpits still held relatively high alkaline water. These works were done at the same time of the eel kill but no direct link could be established. The company was requested to clean up the site, flush out the stormwater line and provide a written explanation. |
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