Waimate’s drainage no match for intense rain
The deluge which caused the flooding of businesses in Waimate dumped so much water on the town its stormwater system was unable to cope, an initial district council investigation has discovered.
Waimate District Council chief executive Stuart Duncan said early indications suggested design capacity was exceeded as businesses and the council’s headquarters were inundated with water on January 3.
‘‘When the rain ceased, the flooding effectively disappeared quite quickly and the drainage worked as designed.
‘‘Typically, council design this type of infrastructure to withstand a standard storm event, for example a one in 10-year event, and anything above that is deemed as overland flow constrained within defined overland flow paths.
‘‘This was a significant level of rainfall in such a short space of time, clearly exceeding capacity of both the inground infrastructure and overland flow paths, and resulting in flooding,’’ Duncan said.
At Shampers Hair Design across the street from council’s headquarters, owner Shelly Medlicott, who has worked at the saloon for 38 years, said she had never seen anything like it.
She estimated the shop floor had up to 30 centimetres of water.
‘‘We’ve never had anything like this before.’’
Medlicott said electrical appliances and furniture had been wrecked while it was likely the floor would have to be replaced.
The shop had to be sanitised and was shut for a couple of days as staff relocated to another salon.
Next door, Waimate Flooring owner Kaye MacPherson, who has temporarily relocated to her home, said all stock, including carpet, vinyl and giftware that was on the shop floor, was ruined by water 25cm deep.
MacPherson said it was unknown when she could reopen the store. Two other businesses in the same block – a dentist and a physio – had relocated until further notice. The dentist is operating out of Oamaru.
‘‘It was such a downpour that I don’t know if anything had coped, it’s a bit strange trying to work from home,’’ MacPherson.
‘‘Time will tell whether there is an ongoing cost.’’
Duncan said the investigation into the flooding was ongoing as the council’s offices and library remain closed to at least Monday.
‘‘The flooding of the council building has been extremely disruptive and time-consuming for staff, not the start to the new year I wanted.’’
Duncan said dehumidifiers, fans, heaters, air scrubbers and hydroxyl generators have been used in council’s cleanup.
Skirting boards and contaminated and damaged carpet and furniture had been removed from the offices, and the council had lodged an insurance claim.
‘‘I also appreciate the disruption it has caused our customers, but everyone can be reassured we will be back to normal operations as soon as possible,’’ Duncan said.
Insurance Council of New Zealand communications manager Leah McNeil did not have cost of claims so far.