New River Estuary locals have concerns about chemical and bacterial contamination at the site of the old landfill site. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDResidents concerned about the state of Pleasure Bay Lagoon and the potential impacts on human health are wanting to know what is leaching into the old landfill site. It was affected by land reclamation, increased nutrients and sediments from the upper areas of the catchment, and heavy metals entering via the old landfill and stormwater network. ES would join the National Landfill Risk Assessment project and would identify the risk from existing and historic landfills and how to adapt to the effects of climate change. He said methane, nitrogen and bacterial contamination levels were monitored through water testing and observation but the methane produced was decreasing, and analysis of the lagoon water showed nitrogen and bacterial contamination levels were dropping.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 13, 2019 15:11 UTC