Ultra-filter brought in to deal with over-full dam

Levels have remained dangerously high in the Omaha dam, which is next to the cycleway between Takatu and Jones Roads.

Watercare is having to take extreme measures to stop a large storage dam at the Omaha wastewater treatment plant from bursting its banks after more than a year of exceptionally heavy rains.

To save the 38,000 cubic metre dam, there have already been three emergency discharges of partially treated water into the wastewater system and, ultimately, Whangateau Harbour – the first a year ago, then two more after the January floods and cyclone in February.

Watercare is now ...