A precautionary health warning has been issued at Tikitapu (Blue Lake) after a small leak from a public toilet.

A cleaner spotted the leak seeping from a urinal at the public toilets on the motor camp end of Tikitapu (Blue Lake) Beach on Sunday.

The facilities were secured by a plumber, who alerted contractors about 11.40am.

Damp ground was discovered outside the toilet block along with a small damp patch near the sand.

Rotorua Lakes Council said a fault in a power box temporarily cut power to the pump station servicing the toilets.

The fault has since been fixed.

Toilets were cleaned, and as a precaution, the area was cordoned off with warning signs.

There were no visible signs of contamination in the lake, and water testing showed no contamination.

Further testing returned safe preliminary results, however, the health warning will stay in place until final confirmation, expected today.

Te Arawa Lakes Trust general manager Tame Malcolm said he was disappointed the trust received no notification of the leak.

“We have always partnered with Rotorua Lakes Council to improve infrastructure and manage that problem.

“So again, disappointing that we found out about it through the media despite statutory agreements, and I have the assurances from them last year that they will notify us.”

Malcolm also said board members, especially Tūhourangi and those in the wider area who whakapapa to the lake, were confused and disappointed they were not included.

The council responded: “We are in conversations with Mr Malcolm to understand and resolve this directly with him”.

Meanwhile, the council is urging people to avoid the water until final test results are known.

Health officials warn contaminated water can cause anything from stomach illnesses to respiratory, skin, ear and eye infections.

Those who may have come into contact with the contaminated water are encouraged to wash thoroughly.

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