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A toxic sludge has again spilled onto a beach on Wellington’s south coast and there are no plans to stop it permanently.
Water in Houghton Bay in Wellington that contains toxic substances.
Photo: Supplied
The runoff comes from a former landfill under the suburb of Houghton Bay that closed decades ago.
Since then, periodically after heavy rains, it overwhelms the sewage system and dumps onto Houghton Bay Beach, and residents and local councilors are fed up with it.
Houghton Valley resident Anj Barton said the recurring smell in the valley from the old landfill reminded her of the stench of roadworks: old tires, tar and diesel.
“A lot of people also walk their dogs on the beach. So … people smell and breathe these fumes, which is pretty horrible to be honest.”
The toxic substance causing the smell called “leachate” is runoff from the old dumpster, and crews came out last night to clean it up.
When the sewage system is running smoothly, the leachate is diverted to a treatment plant, but a few times a year it randomly overwhelms the system and is discharged onto the beach.
It is not known what triggers the runoff overflow, given that yesterday’s rain was nothing compared to last week’s steep fall.
Tests conducted in 2013 showed that the substance has low toxicity and its effect on the environment is minor, but it is not known what was thrown at the tip so many decades ago, so it is possible that the toxicity increases over time.
Cleaning equipment for toxic sludge washed away from the old Houghton Bay landfill in Wellington.
Photo: Supplied / Wellington Water
Wellington City Councilwoman Fleur Fitzsimons, who has the health portfolio, said the locals were fed up and deserved better.
“The residents are sick and tired of this happening, the surfers are sick and tired of this happening, and this community really deserves transparent answers as to why it is happening.”
Houghton Valley Councilwoman and Representative Teri O’Neill is pointing directly at Wellington Water, saying once again that the organization’s mitigation strategy to stop the pollution had failed.
“When we have high water pressure, it’s supposed to trigger a Wellington Water alert.
“This is exactly what we paid them to do and obviously something has not worked out here today and that is what disappoints us quite a bit.”
She said there are currently no large-scale remediation plans to stop the problem forever.
“If we said no runoff could come out of the landfill, probably [require] destroying an entire community given the amount of Wellington’s housing and infrastructure already built on the landfills. “
Wellington Water’s stormwater advisor Ben Fountain said it was a problem that had been brewing for a generation and would require everyone to work together for a permanent solution.
“This is certainly one where we need to think about a longer term solution, but it will take some time to develop and we will have to involve various parties, including Wellington City Council and … the local community as well.”
Meanwhile, authorities say people should avoid the beach for a couple of days.
