12 May, 2022

Wastewater pipe repairs begin

A $5.4 million fix is under way for the main wastewater pipe that runs along the Takapuna foreshore.

The pipe, serving the suburb’s residential and commercial areas, is to be relined with polyvinyl chloride, a high-strength thermoplastic material, along 1.6km of its length, using trenchless technology. Access holes connected to the pipe will also be checked and repaired if necessary.

Watercare project manager Johan Gerritsen said work is expected to go through to August. “By relining this section of the pipe we’ll extend its life by 50 years and significantly reduce wastewater overflows in the area,” he said. “The wastewater pipe will still be in service while we carry out the relining work.”

The work will start at Hauraki Rd and progress north towards Earnoch Ave. Workers will be onsite from 7am to 5pm on weekdays and 7am to 2pm on Saturday. Some beach access ways will be temporarily closed and some res- idents will be contacted about workers needing to access their property.

Some “odour” may be present nearby, but this will dissipate once access holes are resealed.

Watercare’s Ben Halli well previously told the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board it was likely that failures in the pipe were connected to water quality issues at Takapuna Beach.

Watercare will carry out environmental monitoring for six months after the work finishes to identify any further issues contributing to overflows or beach water quality.

---

The Rangitoto Observer can be downloaded online here.

Please consider supporting The Rangitoto Observer by clicking here: