All posts in the topic Pollution in the Avon / Heathcote Estuary (Short link)

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There are 6 posts — by 5 authors — in this topic.
Latest post made by Andrew Groom at 2007 Apr 04 07:33 UTC

From: Andrew Groom Date: 2007 Apr 01 07:28 UTC Short link

Hi All,

Does anyone know of a definitive study (or studies) on pollution in the Avon /
Heathcote Estuary ? I've heard various things like "don't eat the shellfish"
and "mercury is the major problem" but can anyone point me to an authoritative
answer ?

I've also heard that the heavy metal pollution is a historical thing
(industrial pollution from yesteryear) but is this true or is current
industrial activity still contributing to it ? Also, what about road runoff ?

Cheers, Andrew.

From: Christine Edwards Date: 2007 Apr 01 08:01 UTC Short link

Hello Andrew Yes I gather there are some studies- ongoing that are being done
by Cant Uni students funded by some dept at the Council and done over summer.
They are done by 3rd year science students mostly. Some are looking at plants
and the effects of pollution.
  I think the concern with the shellfish comes because of the sewage ponds
final outfall which is in the estuary. Even though it is supposed to be 'clean'
there may be some residue.
  I also believe there is some concern over the Heathcote river.
  Christine
Andrew <andrew@reurbanise.co.nz> wrote:
  Hi All,

Does anyone know of a definitive study (or studies) on pollution in the Avon /
Heathcote Estuary ? I've heard various things like "don't eat the shellfish"
and "mercury is the major problem" but can anyone point me to an authoritative
answer ?

I've also heard that the heavy metal pollution is a historical thing
(industrial pollution from yesteryear) but is this true or is current
industrial activity still contributing to it ? Also, what about road runoff ?

Cheers, Andrew.

From: Rod Dickson Date: 2007 Apr 02 10:48 UTC Short link

Dear Forum Members,

In relation to Andrew's questions, I suggest that both Environment
Canterbury and Community & Public Health would have any number of studies
that could answer these questions.  Also, both Lincoln and Canterbury
University students and staff are likely to have conducted different
studies, at different times.

I believe that the heavy metals found in the sediments are likely to have
been there for decades, given that industrial stormwater and other
discharges from Woolston and Bromley industrial sites would have ended up in
the Avon-Heathcote Estuary.

However, there is still likely to be some contribution from present day
stormwater discharges.  The above sources should have the answers you seek.

Cheers
Rod Dickson

From: 'Just Blair' Anderson Date: 2007 Apr 04 00:43 UTC Short link

Since the radical curtailment of industrial sourced pollution the bulk of
contamination reaching the city waterways arrives via stormwater.

Two common sources are from transport origins that include PAH's, Particulates
and Asbestos(brake-linings) including lead, copper and zinc and from roofing
materials, especially coatings and metals.

Storm-water is also contaminated by construction sites, mismanaged soils both
stockpiles and movements
(plastic bags, bottles and other street litter, (I cleaned up two rubbish bag
fulls kayaking the AVON between Armagh entrance to Hagley and the Boatshed
weir, that was without even looking hard) also herbicides/fertilisers,
detergent from car washing/building mtce, animal faeces, illegal and accidental
spills/dumping into stormwater drains and air pollution (my pet subject).

Sediments from property development, mostly subsequent to rain events are
significant contributors to sediment loading but good management (like making
sure new roofs are connected to stormwater quickly) help reduce this.
Ecan has some useful guidelines here.
(http://ecan.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/99B1A375-CF17-4B72-A2CB-3ECEA09F7504/0/StormwaterGuidelines.pdf)

NIWA also has some good stormwater examples including Christchurch's Jacksons
Creek, but highlights that heavy metal contaminants (probably from poorly
maintained roof surfaces, as roading in the area is light) reducing healthy
biota.
https://www.niwascience.co.nz/ncwr/wru/2006-15/wru-2006-15.pdf

I am keen to see an aggressive 'educational' position taken by city
administrators towards 'green roofing' strategies, (esp in industrial roofing)
and adoption of light impact asphalt (non or low aromatic bitumen) where runoff
is direct to or adjacent to waterways.

From: Derrick Bishop Date: 2007 Apr 04 05:27 UTC Short link

Hi All
I am surprised no one has addressed the issue of the effect of farming and
farming practices in Canterbury on the environment

Derrick Bishop

-----Original Message-----
From: Blair [mailto:blair@mildgreens.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 4 April 2007 12:45 p.m.
To: Canterbury Public Issues Forum
Subject: Re: [Canterbury Issues] Pollution in the Avon / Heathcote Estuary

Since the radical curtailment of industrial sourced pollution the bulk of
contamination reaching the city waterways arrives via stormwater.

Two common sources are from transport origins that include PAH's,
Particulates and Asbestos(brake-linings) including lead, copper and zinc and
from roofing materials, especially coatings and metals.

Storm-water is also contaminated by construction sites, mismanaged soils
both stockpiles and movements
(plastic bags, bottles and other street litter, (I cleaned up two rubbish
bag fulls kayaking the AVON between Armagh entrance to Hagley and the
Boatshed weir, that was without even looking hard) also
herbicides/fertilisers, detergent from car washing/building mtce, animal
faeces, illegal and accidental spills/dumping into stormwater drains and air
pollution (my pet subject).

Sediments from property development, mostly subsequent to rain events are
significant contributors to sediment loading but good management (like
making sure new roofs are connected to stormwater quickly) help reduce this.
Ecan has some useful guidelines here.
(http://ecan.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/99B1A375-CF17-4B72-A2CB-3ECEA09F7504/0/Sto
rmwaterGuidelines.pdf)

NIWA also has some good stormwater examples including Christchurch's
Jacksons Creek, but highlights that heavy metal contaminants (probably from
poorly maintained roof surfaces, as roading in the area is light) reducing
healthy biota.
https://www.niwascience.co.nz/ncwr/wru/2006-15/wru-2006-15.pdf

I am keen to see an aggressive 'educational' position taken by city
administrators towards 'green roofing' strategies, (esp in industrial
roofing) and adoption of light impact asphalt (non or low aromatic bitumen)
where runoff is direct to or adjacent to waterways.

/Blair

Blair
Kerrs Reach, Christchurch
More info: Info about Blair:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/blairanderson

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From: Andrew Groom Date: 2007 Apr 04 07:33 UTC Short link

Hi Derrick,

That sounds like a topic in its own right ! If you have some thoughts on the
matter, you could start a new topic by simply sending an email to the forum
(canterburyissues@forums.e-democracy.org) with whatever you like as the
subject, e.g.:

"Effects of farming on the Canterbury environment"

Cheers, Andrew.

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