Ōhope groundwater contamination
UPDATED: 12PM MONDAY 22 DECEMBER 2025
Bay of Plenty Regional Council has completed its assessment of groundwater quality around Harbour Road, Ōhope, following the discovery of a pit latrine (long drop) on a nearby property.
Four high-risk bores were sampled throughout November, including after rainfall. All results met drinking water standards, with no E. coli detected and only one very low-level faecal coliform result. Nitrate levels were below maximum allowable values. Overall, our sampling suggests that the long drop has not impacted groundwater quality.
However, due to the shallow aquifer, there could still be a risk until it is decommissioned.
Therefore, as a precaution, public health advice to those living in the affected area (please refer to the map at the bottom of this page) is to avoid drinking from bores, using it for watering food gardens or for home recreational activities (such as paddling pools and kids’ sprinklers) until the long drop is removed.
No further routine sampling is required at this stage, but a follow-up test will be done after the long drop has been decommissioned. We will provide a further update at this time.
We wish to thank the Ōhope community for their patience and cooperation while we completed this assessment.
If you have any questions or concerns, or wish to report any environmental pollution, please call our 24/7 Pollution Hotline on 0800 884 883.
UPDATED: 4PM FRIDAY NOVEMBER 14 2025
The results in the second round of sampling from the potentially impacted area show no signs of contamination.
However, as a precautionary measure, we are still advising bore owners in the area (see map at the bottom of this page) to avoid using their bores for any activities for at least another two weeks.
This ensures we can complete our planned four-week programme of sampling and that results are accurate over time.
We have been in touch with registered bore owners in the area to advise them of this update.
For queries, please contact the Pollution Hotline on 0800 884 883.
We appreciate the community’s cooperation and will provide further updates in due course.
UPDATED: 9AM FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7 2025
Bay of Plenty Regional Council is continuing to assess the potential risk to groundwater quality in the Harbour Road area of Ōhope.
This week, baseline water samples were collected from five nearby properties with high-risk bores. These samples are part of a broader groundwater sampling programme in the area that will continue over the next four weeks, to ensure results are accurate over time and to confirm whether contamination remains a risk.
Samples will be tested for standard septic tank indicators including E. coli, enterococci, total coliforms, nitrate, ammoniacal nitrogen, chloride, turbidity and electrical conductivity.
As a precaution, residents with bores in the affected area are advised to continue avoiding the use of bore water for any activities until further notice (see map at the bottom of this page). This advice will remain in place until continued water quality sampling results confirm it is safe to resume use.
We appreciate the community’s cooperation and will provide further updates once more sampling results are available.
For queries, please contact the Pollution Hotline on 0800 884 883.
UPDATED: 1.30PM, SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1 2025
Bay of Plenty Regional Council has identified a potential risk to groundwater quality in the Harbour Road area of Ōhope, following confirmation of an unauthorised wastewater discharge in a local property.
Due to the shallow nature of the groundwater in this area and the presence of permeable materials such as sand, gravel, and pumice, there is an increased risk that contaminants may move quickly through the aquifer. Many domestic bores in the vicinity are shallow and may draw water from the same layer, making them more vulnerable to contamination.
As a precaution, residents with bores in the area indicated on the map at the bottom of this page are advised to immediately stop using bore water for any activities.
This advice will remain in place until the source of contamination is addressed and water quality testing confirms it is safe to resume use.
Further communication will be provided once sampling results are available and next steps have been confirmed.
Compliance staff will be contacting registered bore holders. Residents with unregistered bores are encouraged to contact the Regional Council so we can provide advice and support.
Please direct any queries to the Duty Compliance Officer, Beau Woods, on 027 233 3924, or the Pollution Hotline on 0800 884 883.
We appreciate community cooperation as we work to address this as quickly as we can.
