POLLUTION EVENTS
The many and varied pollution events from the Porirua Wastewater Treatment Plant have been well documented by local and national media outlets
2024 - 2025
May 2024 - June 2025
Photos of the Biomass Macro Algae on Titahi Bay Beach.
Evidence of why this biomass has started to grow was predicted in the Cawthron Report 3380 in 2019 - refer pages 41 and 42.
Photos of the Biomass Macro Algae on Titahi Bay Beach.
Evidence of why this biomass has started to grow was predicted in the Cawthron Report 3380 in 2019 - refer pages 41 and 42.
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2024
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10 Sep - The Post - Justin Wong
'High Risk' pump station omitted from long-term plan 19 Aug - The Post - Justin Wong Titahi Bay sewage pump the leakiest in Porirua 27 Jun - The Post - Justin Wong Porirua council promises sewage fix, but how will it pay? |
6 Jun - Radio New Zealand - Kate Green
"I smelt it, I felt it" 
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6 Jun - The Post - Justin Wong
Porirua sewage leak protests prompt council funding 15 Apr - The Post - Tom Hunt Former Porirua sewerage plant worker: "I wouldn't go in the sea there" |
2023
Nov - Porirua City Council - Wastewater Treatment Plant and Landfill Joint Committee 7
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Wellington Waste Water Manager Steve Hutchison admits that untreated wastewater is regularly discharged from pump stations into Titahi Bay and Plimmerton beaches (scroll to 54 mins)
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2023/2022
Rain events have caused plant malfunction power surges, UV shut downs, and aeration penstock issues multiple times since the new UV system went on line in September 2022. Specifically on these dates:
2022
18 Nov - The Scoop - Michelle Laurenson
Children swam in polluted Titahi Bay after discharge was not notified 29 Jun - Stuff - Pania Rei We need wastewater systems that don't harm people and the planet 9 May - The Scoop - Michelle Laurenson Fighting pollution |
2021
21 Oct - Stuff - Mandy Te
Wellington Water launches independent review into wastewater treatment operations 21 Oct - NZ Herald - Georgina Campbell Independent review announced of Wellington's wastewater treatment operations 25 Jul - RNZ - Harry Lock Porirua wastewater proposal 'a licence to pollute', critics say 18 Jun - The Scoop - Eugene Doyle Take a pause till there's a sewage solution 3 Apr - Stuff - Katarina Williams Porirua wastewater plant's second UV system failure in as many months 7 Feb - TV3 - Newshub: Rosie Gordon Porirua's Titahi Bay residents fume over delays learning of sewage leaks 3 Jan - TV3 - Newshub: Alexa Cook Sewage flowing onto Porirua beach 'heartbreaking' for locals |
2020
18 Dec - Stuff - Damian George
Ratepayers fork out $354,000 for PR firms following Wellington water woes 16 Nov - Stuff - Jordan Boyd 'It’s hugely disappointing': Sewage leak interrupts Titahi Bay surf club carnival 2019
13 Sep - Stuff - Nicholas Boyack
Wellington Water fined $67,500 for illegal discharge into sea near Titahi Bay 16 Aug - Stuff - Joel Maxwell Residents reject assurances sewage plant working fine after October sludge incident |
You can also see evidence of pollution in Titahi Bay from overflows and discharges at the Porirua Wastewater Treatment Plant in the photo gallery.