Dunedin's new sewage outfall is now operational, and pumps sewage more than one kilometre out to sea.
The Dunedin City Council says the $37 million Tahuna Outfall is part of a major project aimed at preventing pollution-related beach closures.
This month alone, the city's main swimming beaches have been closed because of pollution - St Clair for 12 days and and St Kilda for 15 days.
Tomahawk Beach's water has been off limits for a century due to contamination from the old coastal outfall at Lawyer's Head.
The council said within three months the sewage will be chlorinated, which should eliminate any public health risk.
