A diesel spill in the Waikato River is concerning the Waikato Regional Council as it is the third time in the last three months such a spill has occurred.

The council is appealing to the public for information to help locate who is responsible for this contamination.

The spill on Monday afternoon was through a storm water system which discharges into the river near the St Andrew's Golf Course.

The council believes several hundred litres of diesel has spilt into the river.

The diesel is being swept down river and the council is warning people who take water from the river for stock to take precautions to ensure the water is not tainted.

The council's compliance and education manager, Rob Dragten, says while diesel has a distinctive unpleasant odour and leaves visible rainbow sheen on the surface of the water, it generally evaporates reasonably easily and is expected to be gone quickly.

'But it's important we locate where this diesel is coming from so we can take any necessary action to prevent further spills.”

Anyone with information on the possible source of the diesel is asked to phone the council on 0800 800 401.

The storm water system which discharges into the river near St Andrew's collects water from much of Te Rapa and Avalon Drive, so the diesel could have come from anywhere in that area.

'Enquiries into the two previous spills have failed to identify the source.

'There's likely to be members of the community who will know where this diesel has come from and we'd be keen to hear from them,” says Rob.