12 June 2013

Council tracks phantom dumper

Staff from Wellington City Council and water network company Capacity Infrastructure Services are tracking the source of potentially dangerous material being dumped into Karori’s drainage system.

Toxic material is being discharged into the wastewater network in Karori every couple of weeks or so, often in the small hours of the morning. The material is toxic enough to threaten the biological processes of the suburb’s wastewater treatment plant, says Capacity spokesman Alex van Paassen.

“In a worst case scenario, a large load of this stuff could kill the treatment plant. That could lead to untreated sewage being discharged off the south Makara coast for however long it takes to get the plant up and running again.

“It also threatens the health and safety of workers at the plant.”

Samples of the toxic waste are being analysed, and officers have written to people in the area asking for information that might help track down the “phantom dumper”.

“We want to work with whoever’s responsible to help them dispose of this waste responsibly,” said Mr van Paassen. “But first of all we want it to stop.”

The Western Treatment Plant treats an average of 3,000 cubic metres of wastewater a day, from Karori’s 5,000 or so households.

ENDS

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