Discoloured river water worries resident

JOHN BISSET/Timaru Herald

MYSTERY COLOUR: Glenavy resident Merv Cochrane wants answers about what is causing the brown colour in a braid of the Waitaki River.

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A greeny-brown sludge in the Waitaki River is causing concern about possible contamination.

Merv Cochrane of Glenavy said the discolouration and strange material in the water had been occurring 24 hours a day for several months and he had been concerned enough to ring Environment Canterbury's pollution hotline several times, but to no avail.

While a hotline representative had seen the water and "wasn't very happy when he saw it," Mr Cochrane had not heard anything since.

After about four weeks of ringing the hotline, he said he had had enough. "I've heard of a lot of people complaining, but unless someone stands up [it's not going to change]."

Though there is no clue as to what is causing the discolouration, Mr Cochrane was concerned it could be runoff or effluent from farms.

It is coming from the area of two small streams on the north side of the river near the Waitaki River bridge on State Highway 1 and can be seen swirling at the edge of the faster-moving water.

Elsewhere in the river the water is its usual blue colour.

The Herald sent a photo of the area to ECan for comment, but at the time of going to press there had been no response.

- © Fairfax NZ News