Spill at Water Treatment Plant

A full investigation is underway by Hamilton City Council following a wastewater spill at Hamilton’s Wastewater Treatment Plant yesterday (31 July).

The fully treated wastewater sludge overflowed its tank, flowing into the Treatment Plant’s storm water system and from there into the Waikato River. Around 140m3 of sludge overflowed, but it is unclear how much of this flowed into the storm water and into the river.

As soon as the spill was noticed early Sunday morning Wastewater Treatment Plant staff immediately took action to stop the spill, as well as cleaning up the storm water drain system and river outfall near the Plant.

The Waikato Regional Council, health authorities and significant down river users and organisations were also notified of the spill. Health authorities have not notified any concerns for river users at this time.

Council has launched an investigation into the cause of the spill and whether anything could have been done to prevent it.

City Waters Manager Tim Harty says: “We have a great respect for the Waikato River, and strive at all times to operate our Wastewater Treatment Plant to the highest of standards, so it is rare for there to be a spill such as this.

“For that reason we will be fully investigating how the spill occurred and the steps we took once we became aware of it in order to minimise this happening in the future and to ensure we’re as responsive as we can be in these situations.”