Signs warning against swimming remain at Titahi Bay
Wellington Water crews yesterday located a plumbing fault in the catchment feeding into Porirua’s Titahi Bay beach and are working to get this fixed. Recent regular monitoring at Titahi Bay beach showed high bacteria counts with signage going up last Thursday recommending against swimming there.
Work is continuing in the catchment to see if any other faults can be found, and water quality testing is continuing daily.
Sunday’s water quality results indicated lower levels of contamination at Titahi Bay Beach, but the warning signage will remain in place as a precaution while work continues to resolve the causes. Our normal protocol for lifting the warning is to have two consecutive days of results within the safe bathing guidelines.
Signs went up saying Titahi Bay Beach was not suitable for swimming or other recreational activity such as fishing or collecting seafood when Wellington Water’s regular monitoring programme returned high bacteria counts on Thursday 12 March.
This result triggered a response from Wellington Water’s operational team to investigate the catchment, looking for a potential source of pollution. This process involves collecting and analysing samples from key points in the stormwater network, and the team methodically working their way upstream from the beach, following the trail of contamination.
Causes such as cross-connections from wastewater to stormwater pipes or damaged pipes provide intermittent flows, so contamination is not constant. As a consequence, some issues can lie undetected for years, while tracking faults can take weeks and sometimes has to be delayed as more urgent repairs take priority.
As well as tracking down the sources in the catchment, sampling can only tell us one part of the story, and can change from tide to tide. As stormwater outlets run onto the beach, high tide can pull in the contaminants into the sea meaning we receive a high reading, and low tide can mean there is a lower result.
Late last month high levels of bacteria were found near one of the four stormwater outlets to Titahi Bay beach through Wellington Water’s regular water quality monitoring programme. A broken wastewater pipe connection was identified approximately a kilometre from the beach and fixed the following day, ahead of the Titahi Bay Beach festival.
Emma’s wedding dress reveal tells a different love story
A Valentine’s-inspired wedding dress show at Ryman Healthcare’s Logan Campbell Village is providing the perfect opportunity for residents to share memories of their romantic day.
But for Emma Muller, it has also turned into an opportunity to celebrate her late daughter Nicola, who died 19 years ago at the age of 37.
Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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59.3% Yes, supporting people is important!
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26.4% No, individuals should take responsibility
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14.3% ... It is complicated
Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬
Make a hearty dish. Take just half a minute. Add four parts of kestrel. Then just add one. What have you made?
(Trev from Silverdale kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Trev!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
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