Public advised against swimming at Pukawa Bay

UPDATE: 5.30pm Tuesday 7 June 2022

Thanks to the quick work of our contractors and staff, the blockage in the sewer has been found and cleared and the clean up is taking place.

4.50pm Tuesday 7 June 2022

Taupō District Council staff and contractors were advised late this afternoon of a suspected manhole overflow in a bush reserve at Kaiuru Ave, Pukawa, most probably caused by a blocked sewer.

From there wastewater has entered the stormwater network, which discharges to a water course, which in turn flows into the lake.

It is not yet known whether any wastewater has made it into the water course or the lake, but as a precaution, the beach area has been fenced off and ‘no swimming’ signs erected.

The Waikato Regional Council has been notified and water samples taken to assess whether any contamination has occurred. Workers are moving as quickly as possible to find the cause of the blockage and contain the spill. The community will be kept updated as further details become available.