The Tauranga City Council is reporting a sewer main near Windermere Drive is leaking, resulting in an ongoing sewer overflow that may affect the Waimapu Estuary.

The pipeline is in dense scrub and swamp area making it difficult to access and repair quickly – repairs might take at least a week.

This particular rising main cannot be shut off because it forms a critical part of the wastewater network.

The council is reducing flows as much as possible by using tanker trucks to transport wastewater away from the area.

Although the sewer main is functioning at a reduced rate it will continue to overflow at times until repairs can be made.

Water quality tests have been taken to assess the extent of the overflow.

As a precaution, health warning signs have been placed around the estuary as far as Turret Road.