Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by the recent Christchurch earthquake.

Although the area around the Lake was not as badly impacted as parts of Christchurch, there are now some environmental problems. The Halswell and L2 rivers, which are now badly contaminated, flow directly into Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere. This information is from Selwyn District Council:

River Contamination

With the failure of the city’s sewerage system, raw sewage is now being discharged into rivers. The Halswell and L2 rivers are therefore contaminated and should be avoided until further notice.

Limited Sewerage Capacity

To limit the raw sewage going into rivers, residents in the Prebbleton, Tai Tapu, Lincoln and Springston sewerage scheme areas are asked to reduce their use of toilet flushing, bath and shower facilities.

To check for the latest updates, visit the Selwyn District Council website

updated February 28, 2011