Over the last few years, the Kaipātiki Local Board has been funding an “Industrial Pollution Prevention” programme to help prevent pollution from our industrial areas getting into our local waterways.

Recently we’ve been concentrating on the Wairau Valley catchment and working with the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board and the Healthy Waters department to try to prevent pollution entering the Wairau streams which then flow through to the Milford Marina and beach.

This year, two sensors have been installed in Wairau to measure electrical conductivity, pH and water temperature changes to the stream. When changes are detected, council staff are alerted so that the stream can be checked and any pollution event investigated. The Local Board has funded more sensors to be installed over the coming 12 months.

Also this year, 60 businesses in Wairau Valley and 55 businesses in Birkenhead have been visited to help educate on th best ways to contain hazardous material and avoid spills. Of those businesses, 17 in Wairau and 5 in Birkenhead were advised to make changes.

Some of the issues discovered were:

• Liquids (drums, 1000L containers and 20L containers) stored outside without covered containment: Liquids stored outside must be covered in secondary containment in case of a leak onto land and into stormwater drains.

• Car and equipment washing: Detergents and other products used in the washing process should not go into stormwater drains. Dry washing processes must be established, or water directed to wastewater systems.
• No spill kits available or inadequate supplies: A spill kit must be available to use in case of an accidental spill whilst unloading liquids. Businesses have been given information around how to put these together and/or acquire more equipment.
• Scrap bins leaking oil onto unsealed ground: As scrap bins have holes in the bottom, liquids should be disposed of elsewhere.

The Local Board has allocated further funding to continue this great work.

Programme funded by the Kaipātiki Local Board.