Bay Of Plenty Regional Council Assess Groundwater Quality Around Ōhope's Harbour Road Area

Bay of Plenty Regional Council is continuing to assess the potential risk to groundwater quality in the Harbour Road area of Ōhope.

It follows confirmation earlier this month of an unauthorised wastewater discharge in a local property.

Baseline water samples were collected last week from five nearby properties with high-risk bores.

"These samples are part of a broader groundwater sampling programme in the area that will continue over the next four weeks, to ensure results are accurate over time and to confirm whether contamination remains a risk," a Bay of Plenty Regional Council spokesperson says.

"Samples will be tested for standard septic tank indicators including E. coli, enterococci, total coliforms, nitrate, ammoniacal nitrogen, chloride, turbidity and electrical conductivity,"

"As a precaution, residents with bores in the affected area are advised to continue avoiding the use of bore water for any activities until further notice. This advice will remain in place until continued water quality sampling results confirm it is safe to resume use,"

"We appreciate the community’s cooperation and will provide further updates once more sampling results are available," the spokesperson says.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council encourage the community to please contact the Pollution Hotline on 0800 884 883 with any queries.

Image: BOPRC.