First rain flush sparks sewerage calls

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Wanganui District Council received a number of complaints yesterday about the smell of sewage in the St John's Hill and Otamatea areas. Councillor Ray Stevens said the smell was not sewage but was caused by the first rain after a very dry summer flushing the stormwater system that would have been dry or stagnant in recent months.

"This first flush is causing the release of odours from the system," Mr Stevens said.

He said the council officers had investigated all smell complaints and they were confident there was no wastewater contamination.

"The smell will dissipate as we get more rain over the next few days."