The first opportunity to search for a leak of treated wastewater in Katikati will be on Tuesday morning, says Western Bay of Plenty District Council.

The leak of treated wastewater has been confirmed on Monday in the Katikati outfall sewer pipe.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council's Katikati Wastewater Treatment Plant discharges its wastewater through a pipe from the Prospect Drive treatment plant across Tauranga Harbour to off Matakana Island.

Council has notified Iwi, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Toi Te Ora Public Health, and is working with contractors to find the leak.

"It's important to emphasise that this is treated wastewater, having been through an ultraviolet light treatment process already," says Council's Utilities Operations Manager, EJ Wentzel.

'To search for the leak we need a low tide in daylight hours without wind.

"The first opportunity will be on Tuesday morning June 27, and the team is geared up and ready to go.

"We will be adding dye to the effluent before putting drones up to see if we can spot the leak in the harbour.

"Warning signs are being put up at the water's edge to let our Western Bay whānau know not to consume any shellfish or swim in the water until the leak has been resolved."

A leak of treated wastewater was last reported in the Katikati Outfall sewer pipe in August 2022.

Council says further updates will be provided when they are available.