Lake Waipu is a small drowned valley dune lake, with a surface water catchment of 531 hectares and an estimated 407 hectare groundwater capture zone. The single outlet from the lake flows into the Turakina River. The lake is of cultural importance with a significant kakahi bed known to be still present within the lake. Lake Waipu Freshwater Improvement Fund project announced in 2017 specifically seeks to remove the discharge into the lake from the Rātana Wastewater Treatment Plant (http://www.horizons.govt.nz).
