The following information is provided here.
ERECTION OF WARNING SIGN ‘DANGER POLLUTED WATER’, Sunday 10 November 2013
NOTICE TO HOUGHTON BAY RESIDENTS FROM CAPACITY, Tuesday, 19 November 2013
EMAIL TO CAPACITY FROM JOHN ROBINSON, QUESTIONING THAT NOTICE AND ASKING QUESTIONS, 22 November
EMAIL TO JOHN ROBINSON FROM CAPACITY, NOT ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS, Thursday, 28 November 2013
EMAIL TO CAPACITY FROM JOHN ROBINSON ASKING A FURTHER QUESTION ABOUT DYE OBSERVED IN THE OUTFALL, Saturday, 30 November 2013
ERECTION OF WARNING SIGN ‘DANGER POLLUTED WATER’, Sunday 10 November 2013
WARNING OF DANGEROUS AND UNPLEASANT POLLUTION ACROSS HOUGHTON BAY, INTO A MARINE RESERVE
Noxious organic and inorganic elements and compounds have been flowing continuously across Houghton Bay for at least the last three months, being leachate from a 50-year old landfill up the valley. Despite many decades of complaints the problem continues. The Wellington City Council (Capacity) has planning permission to discharge polluted stormwater on occasions of heavy rainfall, but this is a continuous dry-weather flow.
On November 10 2013
A few weeks before
This photo, of the thick brown sludge coating the stream outfall on that day, is in the wrong format to copy on to this blog.
Those who watch this have become increasingly concerned, as children have been observed playing by the stream. While we can complain all we like we cannot stop this pollution. But we can take the small action of warning others, so that everyone knows of the danger on this beach.
On Sunday 10 November 2013 we (George Holley, Ricky Mcleod, Fritz Schone and me) placed a notice by the stream warning people that this is polluted water. It is long past the time for such action. Only a public outcry will force a solution.
A second sign, visible from the road has been added. The stream in down the sand bank behind this sign.
NOTICE TO HOUGHTON BAY RESIDENTS FROM CAPACITY, Tuesday, 19 November 2013
Dear Houghton Bay residents and beach users
This is to advise that earlier today (19 November) we removed a small sign reading “Danger polluted water” near where the Houghton Valley stormwater outfall discharges onto the beach.
The sign no doubt refers to the occasional discharge of discoloured water from the outfall. However, as there are already three permitted signs near this site referring to the possible presence of this discharge, and it is illegal to post signs on the beach without permission, we removed the beach sign.
We are always happy to explain the issues relating to the discharges at Houghton Bay.
Yours faithfully
Maria Maillo
Investigation and Design Engineer
Capacity Infrastructure Services Limited
EMAIL TO CAPACITY FROM JOHN ROBINSON, QUESTIONING THAT NOTICE AND ASKING QUESTIONS, 22 November
To Maria Maillo, Investigation and Design Engineer, Capacity Infrastructure Services Limited
Regarding your email of Tuesday, 19 November 2013 to Houghton Bay residents and beach users concerning removal of a Houghton Bay Sign
You refer to an existing sign. That sign is irrelevant.
It says, in small print, “Swimming or aquatic activities not recommended in this area following heavy rain due to the risk of pollution.”
The problem is the constant flow of polluted water in the stream outfall at all times. There is no link to heavy rain.
My own observations of such pollution have been made this year on 3 May (when my photo with sludge appeared in the Dom Post website), 16, 27 August, 2, 9, 19, 20, 28 September, 2, 10, 16, 30 October, 4, 10 November.
This is neither an “occasional discharge”, nor is it just “discoloured water”. This is frequent (probably continuous) highly polluted, very smelly, leachate, which stains the rocks along the stream and is a danger to the health of people and the marine reserve.
Does Capacity recognise that this flow of leachate is a result of your management?
Does Capacity understand that such pollution, if not stopped immediately, demands a clear warning sign?
You say, “We are always happy to explain the issues relating to the discharges at Houghton Bay.” It was at my request that Paul Glennie of Capacity set up a meeting of community and Council on 13th February. I have had no feedback since and my numerous complaints have met with no real action.
Here is a quote from a response by Alex van Paassen Strategic Communications Advisor.
“The management and treatment options in place are
· Diverting the dry weather base flow into the wastewater network and control of leachate flow in the stormwater pipe (diversion) by a weir arrangement. This weir was built in 1992, following an investigation started in 1990. A review of dry weather diversion undertaken in 1999 led to an increased in weir height to reduce the duration of discharges onto the beach.
· Monthly monitoring of weir overflows and stormwater outlets.
· Removing encrustation growth in the stormwater pipe – flushing the pipeline on an annual basis or more frequently if required.”
If the weir height is adjusted to reduce discharges on to the beach, why do they occur? Please note that I am talking about dry weather.
If you are monitoring the outlet, why have you not noticed the leachate flow and stopped it?
Cleaning the pipes will do nothing if this leachate is flowing from the weir to the beach.
Could you answer the four questions above?
You must take ownership of the problem and stop dodging about.
Regards, John Robinson
EMAIL TO JOHN ROBINSON FROM CAPACITY, NOT ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS, Thursday, 28 November 2013
Dear Dr Robinson
Thank you for your email of 22 November to Maria Maillo in response to her communication to Houghton Bay residents regarding the removal of a sign installed on the beach at Houghton Bay.
I refer you to our earlier communication (attached), which you quote, and to additional information below, in answer to your four questions.
1. Does Capacity recognise that this flow of leachate is a result of your management?
The flow of leachate is not a result of our management. It is a result of historical methods of landfill construction, management and closure used at the time when the Houghton Valley Landfill was in use.
Capacity’s function is to manage the water, wastewater and stormwater networks for Wellington City Council, within agreed budgets, work programmes and performance outcomes.
In the case of the leachate from the old landfill, we are responsible for managing the consequences of historical events, but ownership of the problem itself is beyond Capacity’s scope.
2. Does Capacity understand that such pollution, if not stopped immediately, demands a clear warning sign?
The signage in place at Houghton Bay warning people against swimming in the area within 48 hours of heavy rain, and against gathering shellfish in the area at all times, is an outcome of consultation with Regional Public Health, DOC, WCC and Greater Wellington Regional Council, and satisfies a condition of discharge permits issued by GW that permit the discharge of stormwater and occasionally contaminated stormwater directly into the coastal marine area. This signage meets the requirements of that condition.
3. If the weir height is adjusted to reduce discharges on to the beach, why do they occur?
Discharges may occur from time to time due to debris and network blockages. Also, as a result of infiltration, not just leachate, the outfall on the beach may be discoloured. I refer you to our earlier communication to you which summarised action we have taken and noted that:
Recent investigations show these efforts have been effective, and the management steps in place comply with the relevant resource consent. The effects of the discharge in the receiving environment are minor, with mean concentrations of heavy metals from sediment samples and water quality samples below levels for possible negative effects for recreational purposes or health issues.
Since that communication we have increased our visual inspections of the weir and manholes from monthly to fortnightly, with cleaning taking place if discolouration is noted.
We also undertake fortnightly water quality sampling at the beach, testing for faecal coliforms, e.coli and enterococci.
4. If you are monitoring the outlet, why have you not noticed the leachate flow and stopped it?
We continue to monitor the outlet and manage the outfall at Houghton Bay as resources allow, to standards agreed, and including measures noted earlier such as periodic cleaning, monitoring and sampling.
We understand your frustration with the situation at Houghton Bay, but we do not accept that we are “dodging about.” We are managing it according to performance criteria agreed with health, environmental and compliance bodies, and achieving outcomes within those criteria.
Stopping the leachate flow is not a network issue within Capacity’s current scope. The leachate flow is an outcome of historical circumstance that we are doing our best to manage. We appreciate your concern, and as noted earlier, advise it is preferable if you would direct further queries to me, rather than multiple officers within Capacity and our contractors, so I may find the information you need from the appropriate people.
Yours faithfully
Alex van Paassen
Strategic Communications Advisor
EMAIL TO CAPACITY FROM JOHN ROBINSON ASKING A FURTHER QUESTION ABOUT DYE OBSERVED IN THE OUTFALL, Saturday, 30 November 2013
To Iqbal Idris, Senior Project Manager, Asset Development, Capacity Infrastructure Services Limited
Greetings Iqbal
You may recall that since Paul Glennie is no longer with Capacity, you indicated you would be the future contact for community concerns (emails, May 2013).
Since in November Maria Maillo sent a notice to the community, I asked questions of her. These were replied to by Alex van Paassen, who appears to have no understanding of the situation at all and did not answer any of the questions put to him.
So this approach to Capacity is directly to you. I would like to ask one question. Here it is.
On Thursday, 28 November 2013 I observed green dye in the flow from the Houghton Bay outfall. Where was that dye fed into the flow?
Thank you, John Robinson
Dr John Robinson
131 Eden Street
Island Bay
Wellington 6023
Tel (04) 9345936
Email johnrob@paradise.net.nz
