Auckland Council have undertaken sampling of water at the main public access points of Lake Pupuke following a diesel spill last month.
Results received 14 July confirmed that the level of fuel contamination in the lake water is below the limit of detection.
"As such, we are now satisfied that the effects of the diesel spill on lake water quality are negligible and the advice against recreational activities on the lake can be lifted," Steve Pearce, Compliance Manager at the council, says.
"We are aware that small pockets of visible sheen may occasionally still be encountered and, as a general precaution, contact with any visible floating diesel should be avoided.
"We expect that weather and natural processes will continue to disperse and break down any remaining residue," he says.
The council's investigation into the spill is ongoing.
The incident occurred on the night of 22 June when a tank containing diesel spilled into a stormwater drain. The stormwater drain’s interceptors onsite contained the spill, however heavy rainfall saw the system overflow, and the spill entered Lake Pupuke.
Staff were on site from the next morning, securing the spill using booms and absorbent pads.
To care for affected birds, animals were transported to Ambury Regional Park in Mangere.
From there, the birds were taken to Auckland Zoo for rehabilitation, as documented in a recent episode of Zoo Tales.
This was a joint effort by Auckland Council and the Waitematā District Health Board, with bird experts from the zoo, the council’s parks team and the Department of Conservation.
For further information regarding this health advice, the public is encouraged to contact Regional Environmental Control on reccontamination@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or (09) 301 0101.
