Effluent turns waterway green but far from clean

Leon Phare said the waterway which flowed through his property was usually crystal clear. Photo / APN

Green, sludgy dairy farm effluent dumped into a pristine Maketu waterway has caused a stink with local residents and sparked an investigation by environmental authorities.

Arawa Ave residents Leon and Jill Phare woke on Monday last week to find the normally tranquil and clear stream that runs through their property filled with pungent green goo.

"All you could smell was cow [manure]," Mr Phare said.

The waterway swells into a pond on the Phares' property before flowing out towards Newdicks Beach.

Mr Phare said it was usually crystal clear, but last week it was "green and gushing" and the bottom could not be seen.

The Phares have lived on their land for 30 years and grow fruit.

The pond was home to fish and ducks and watercress.

The Armer Farm next door has been blamed for the pollution.

Legally, dairy farmers dispose of effluent by applying it to their land in such a manner that it does not run off into waterways.

Maketu Community Board deputy chairwoman Carol Pohepi said she often got watercress from the Phares and went to their property last Monday.

"The smell when I got out of my car was horrendous. I couldn't believe it," she said.

Environment Bay of Plenty water management group manager Eddie Grogan said the council was investigating the complaint, which was "serious and may result in legal action".

But he refused to comment on details of the incident so "we do not prejudice any future actions the council may need to take".

Any dumping or runoff of dairy farm effluent into waterways is illegal and a person can face a maximum penalty of $300,000 or up to two years in jail. For a company, fines can reach $600,000.

"This specific instance was advised due to public vigilance and highlights the need for people to promptly report their concerns to us via our pollution hotline," Mr Grogan said.

Treatment systems helped to break down dairy effluent into a form that could be beneficially reused when applied to pasture, but discharge to a waterway required substantial dilution to ensure that an adverse environmental effect did not occur, he said.

Farm owner Colin Armer said his business was also making its own investigation.

The Maketu farm carries about 500 cows and has been leased by Armer Farms for 19 years.

- APN