Stream runs black
- Frank Neill
- Oct 2, 2023
- 2 min read
By Frank Neill
Porirua Stream began running black on 26 September owing to contamination by dye.
The contamination was spotted by residents of Glenside’s Willowbank Road, who contacted Claire Bibby, the President of the Glenside Progressive Association.
She advised the residents to contact Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) and she also contacted the council.
GWRC has investigated and found the source of the contamination.
“The black discharge was a result of a non-toxic dye that had been washed down by rainwater,” says David Hipkins, Acting Group Manager for Environment at Greater Wellington.
“It does not take much concentrated dye to go a long way.
“Greater Wellington was able to trace the discharge back to a company in Grenada.
“Sediment was also found to be discharging from the site and Greater Wellington is following up with an investigation,” Mr Hipkins says.
“There have been a lot of upset people talking to me about it [the contamination],” Claire says.
As well as contacting GWRC she also contacted Wellington Water, as the discharge appeared to be right below the Grenada landfill.
Because of that there was a possibility that the discharge was sewage contamination.
Officers from Wellington Water visited the stream on 26 September and investigated.
They were excellent, and they found that it was not sewage contamination, Claire says.
During the same morning, Greater Wellington also began investigating and found that the stream was being contaminated with black dye.
“There are two issues [affecting the Porirua Stream at Glenside],” Claire says.
“One is the black dye. There is also quite a lot of sediment coming down the stream as well.
“The dye came first and then the sediment.”
The association has also informed GWRC about the large amount of sediment in the stream, Claire says.
People who have a concern about water pollution can report it to Greater Wellington 0800 496 734. They receive calls for water pollution 24 hours a day.
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