Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Council taking steps to stop Whangarei sewage overflows

Updated at 10:09 am on 28 February 2009

Whangarei District Council is taking a first step to stop sewage overflows in the central city.

It has begun a systematic check of gully traps, which are drains designed to stop waste water backing up into buildings in times of flood.

The council says a number of gully traps in the town are set too low, allowing stormwater to spill into the sewers in heavy rain.

In recent floods, that has caused raw sewage to flow into the streets and shops in downtown Whangarei causing closures and costly clean ups.

The council says it is starting with its own gully traps first so it cannot be accused of setting a bad example when it asks businesses to fix their drains.

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