Porirua Stream suffers pollution
Greater Wellington Regional Council is asking the public for information about a pollution incident in the Porirua Stream yesterday.
Greater Wellington pollution control officer Chris Keenan said the council first received a complaint at 2.23pm on Wednesday that there was a discolouration in the stream. GW staff were on site within twenty minutes.
The reddish stain in the water had passed through by 2.50pm, and samples were taken at the stream mouth. Mr Keenan said the type of pollution was unknown, but lab results should be available in a few days.
At the moment were looking for information to help determine the source of the pollution, such as what time and where it was seen theres a huge catchment between Johnsonville and Porirua.
The red colour and the fact that no residue was left behind on the stream bottom suggests that the spill may have been rust from a storage tank, or silt from a subdivision project.
The Porirua Stream is one of the most important in the region, with recreational uses and home to at least eight species of fish including the threatened giant kokopu or native trout. No dead fish had been seen but it was too early to assess the environmental impact of the spill, Mr Keenan said.
Anyone with information should call Greater Wellington's pollution hotline on 0800 496 734.