Land and water pollution
Pollution news and updates
Top 6 pollution incidents attended by ARC Pollution Response Officers Jan-Oct 2009
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.
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
| 09 September 2009 | The PRT took part in ‘Operation First Light' an oil spill exercise run by the Harbormasters Office (HO). The exercise took place at Orakei Boat Club and involved a rehearsal of using a variety of Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) oil spill equipment. In the event of a marine oil spill, the PRT are all trained responders and will provide support under the direction of the HO and MNZ). |
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| 17 July 2009 | The PRT were advised by contractors called in to deal with a waste oil spill in Drury of the incident. PRT attended at a vegetable and fruit growers in Drury to find up to 12,000 litres of waste oil spilled from a leaking valve at a recently installed boiler system at the market gardeners. The oil had flowed to ground and local stormwater channels with a large portion ending up in a pond on a neighbouring property. The PRT worked with the contractors into the night on containment and clean-up of the site. Several sucker trucks were used, heavy rains made the clean-up problematic as the pond which had been isolated was threatening to overflow, a filtration pump system was therefore set-up. A variety of clean-up materials and procedures were used on the site. Interception trenches were also dug along with excavating stormwater lines. The clean-up continues and is periodically checked by the PRT. |
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| 08 May 2009 | The PRT responded to a call regarding a spill of 600L of animal blood to the stormwater system in Penrose. By the time they reached the site, the blood had mixed with the rain to form an 8000L pond of blood and water. PRT blocked the stormwater catchpit to stop any further blood entering the stormwater system, they then used the new Pollution Response ‘4 Stroke' pump and began pumping the blood to 1000L containers. Two containers were filled while waiting for the sucker truck to arrive. The spill occurred while a 1000L container full of blood was being transported on a pallet. The pallet broke, tipping the container onto the ground and spilling most of its contents. The blood congealed while in the stormwater line and did not end up exiting the site. The sucker truck sucked up the remaining blood on the ground and then cleared the stormwater lines with hydro-jets. |
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