Businesses fume as wastewater overflows onto central Wellington street

Wellington businesses owners have been left frustrated after wastewater overflowed onto a major central street for several hours.

Wellington Water was on Thursday warning people to avoid Featherston Street, Pipitea until the overflow problem was resolved.

The leak had created a small pool on the corner of Whitmore and Featherston Streets - but was contained to the side of the road and not affecting traffic.

Wellington Water said an initial investigation had indicated the overflow was due to a burst rising main (a pipe that carried wastewater under pressure) close to the pump station.

It said the overflow was discharging into the harbour at Ara Moana.

"We are arranging signage at the discharge points and at usual points along the harbour. Sampling will begin as soon as possible. "

The leak has stopped flowing down the street.

Local businesses were annoyed by the incident.

Businesswoman Diane told RNZ she was frustrated by how many leaks were popping up around the city and how long they took to fix.

She works across the street from the latest one and said she had observed a lot of the workers standing around looking down at the leak.

Steph Lusted Jewellery owner, Steph Lust, watched the leak from her window across the road.

She says she saw it increase in size over an hour.

There is no noticeable smell other than a light sewage perfume right by the water.