Sewage saga: Takapuna Beach closed after sewage flows into water

Sun, sand, surf - and sewage.

That's what you might encounter if you head down to Takapuna Beach this week.

The iconic North Shore beach is currently closed with a "no swim" warning in effect after raw sewage flowed into the water.

Lifeguards shut down the beach at 3.30pm yesterday, when a fault in the wastewater network caused a stormwater drain to overflow.

As a result, raw sewage apparently flowed into the water between the red and yellow flags.

The flags were taken down and the beach was closed for swimming for the remainder of the day - with the water quality labelled "high risk".

According to Auckland Council's Safewswim website, Takapuna is one of a raft of Auckland beaches that are currently unsafe for swimming.

The website provides water quality forecasts and information about health and safety risks 84 beaches around Auckland.

It lists a number of beaches around the area including other popular North Shore beaches and others on Waiheke Island as being unsafe due to poor water quality.

Takapuna is listed as a "high risk" beach with "elevated health risk due to poor water quality".

The risk is said to be lower this evening and tomorrow morning, but remains high at all other times.

Auckland Council could not comment on the situation and referred the Herald to Watercare.

"The most the council can comment on is that this is one of the reasons the Safeswim alert system was developed, so that when these things occur the information can get out to the public as soon as possible," a spokesman said.

Watercare has been contacted for comment.

For more information visit www.safeswim.org.nz.