Work starts on water projects in Cambridge

Work begins this week on installing major new water infrastructure to help secure Cambridge’s water supply for decades to come.

Installation of a new duplicate rising main— a pipe to supply mains water— begins at Karapiro after 18 months of planning. The half million- dollar project will see a duplicate water main installed to existing reservoirs. At the same time work is under way on an upgrade of the Cambridge water treatment plant.

Both projects are essential to supply enough water to cater for Cambridge’s projected growth.

Group manager service delivery Barry Bergin said while growth was a major driver, the projects were also around securing a critical water supply for the town. “It means there are two pipes in operation, rather than one. If something goes wrong with one pipe, there will another one there to get us through.

“It gives Waipa’s whole waters network much greater resilience and that’s important,” he said.

The rising main work was awarded to Fibre Networks NZ following a competitive tender process. It is due to be completed this financial year with the water treatment plant upgrade due for completion in mid 2018.

The existing reservoirs have been constructed on Te Tiki O Te Ihingarangi pa site and works for this project will take place on the site.

A karakia was performed on the site last week.