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Health warnings are still in place for Te Kuiti residents who have been advised to boil water used for drinking and brushing teeth since an effluent spill into the Mangaokewa Stream on Saturday.
A sinkhole developed in a local meatworks' effluent pond, allowing 500,000 litres of untreated waste to leak into the stream, which supplies the town's water plant.
Environment Waikato is monitoring the effects of the spill and said today results showed faecal counts in stream were still "considerably higher than normal".
Environment Waikato scientist Bill Vant said the contaminants appeared to be moving through the system as expected.
However, results were still inconclusive and the health warnings remained in place.
People were also advised to avoid swimming in the stream.
Conclusive tests may not be available for some days.
Heavy rain forecast for this week could help clear up the spill, but it could also destabilise the earth and cause another leak.
Environment Waikato resource use manager Chris McLay said the organisation would be closely monitoring the effects of the rainfall.
Mr McLay said staff were investigating whether the meatworks company was liable for the leak.
He said engineers with experience in land stability issues were working with the company to avoid any more earth movements at the site.
- NZPA
