Signs warn of contamination in Tauranga

Hundreds of flood-damaged Bay of Plenty properties face being ruled off limits with notices slapped on their doors warning passers-by to stay away because of sewage contamination.

Homeowners and their families will be out of their homes for at least six weeks as the properties are repaired and decontaminated.

Health inspectors, who have spent this week examining properties, have also placed notices on commercial premises, including food shops, because of the lingering danger.

They warn that if at-risk houses were left to dry naturally, pathogenic bacteria from sewage would multiply and could cause severe illness if people came into contact with it.

Bay of Plenty Medical Officer of Health Phil Shoemack urged people to keep away from areas where floodwaters had come inside because of the health risk after sewage contamination.

Because of the range of bacteria that could be present, the list of potential illnesses and symptoms was endless.

Today the flood clean-up continues and the first of 16 houses is likely to be demolished.

Papamoa and Otumoetai homes were the first to be assessed by health inspectors yesterday to determine what must be replaced and rebuilt after contact with potentially dangerous stormwater.

Many homes that had been flooded inside were likely to be deemed contaminated.

Yesterday, a total of 133 sanitary assessments were complete -- just over a quarter of the total on the list.

Only 20 families were allowed to re-occupy their homes after assessments and 59 insanitary notices have been served so far.

Senior health protection officer John Tootell said floodwater was not just rainwater -- it was coming through streets, other properties, stream channels and sewers.

Mr Tootell said residents were realising the seriousness of their situation yesterday when "contaminated" signs were erected.

Families would have to wait for the decontamination process to be completed before moving back into homes.

That involved removing and dumping floor coverings and partial removal of wall linings to above the height of the floodwater.

The house would then have to be cleaned, dried and decontaminated before internal fixtures could be reinstated.

In the worst-affected areas of Tauranga, residents have been told to leave removed items on the kerbside for the council to arrange collection and dumping.

But health officials urged people to remember these goods were not free items available for anyone to take.

Bedding, flooring, kitchen appliances and other items would all be contaminated and unsafe to touch.

By last night, 19 homes were classified as category 1 and needed to be demolished.

Earthquake Commission geotechnical engineers were completing a final appraisal to determine if any could avoid demolition.

There were 83 category 2 properties that were a "danger to themselves" and 136 category 3 sites that had sustained damage but not endangered the buildings.

- NZPA