AUCKLAND, New Zealand—Christchurch’s devastating earthquake is taking its toll on the environment as waste from overloaded systems is diverted into the lower reaches of the Waimakariri River.
The Waimakariri River, one of the bigger braided rivers in New Zealand, rises from from the Southern Alps and empties into the Pacific Ocean some 150 kilometres further east near the Canterbury town of Kaiapoi.
Following the Sept. 4 earthquake, there has been enormous pressure on sewerage systems. This has been eased by sending milk and alcohol waste from warehouses to the river, according to www.stuff.co.nz
Waste was being flushed out to sea to avoid spillage on the ground which could contaminate water supplies, said Don Chittock, Hazardous Substances co-ordinator for Environment Canterbury.
“It’s a short term solution. The river does have a fairly high flow and we’re not putting any chemicals down there,” he said.
“We don’t want it to go through the sewerage system which is already full to capacity,” he told Stuff.
Environment Canterbury (EC) has warned in a media release that physical contact with the the river in the affected area should be avoided.
People were being advised not to take or drink water from the river, to avoid collecting fish, shellfish or whitebait and to refrain from swimming or boating.
Authorities have announced that Christchurch water will not need to be boiled anymore, as there is no bacterial contamination. People living in the Waimakariri district should still boil their water.
The Waimakariri River, one of the bigger braided rivers in New Zealand, rises from from the Southern Alps and empties into the Pacific Ocean some 150 kilometres further east near the Canterbury town of Kaiapoi.
Following the Sept. 4 earthquake, there has been enormous pressure on sewerage systems. This has been eased by sending milk and alcohol waste from warehouses to the river, according to www.stuff.co.nz
Waste was being flushed out to sea to avoid spillage on the ground which could contaminate water supplies, said Don Chittock, Hazardous Substances co-ordinator for Environment Canterbury.
“It’s a short term solution. The river does have a fairly high flow and we’re not putting any chemicals down there,” he said.
“We don’t want it to go through the sewerage system which is already full to capacity,” he told Stuff.
Environment Canterbury (EC) has warned in a media release that physical contact with the the river in the affected area should be avoided.
People were being advised not to take or drink water from the river, to avoid collecting fish, shellfish or whitebait and to refrain from swimming or boating.
Authorities have announced that Christchurch water will not need to be boiled anymore, as there is no bacterial contamination. People living in the Waimakariri district should still boil their water.
