Water outage in street 20 times in three years

Tim Cox knows the routine, or lack of it, now his water has failed about 20 times in three years.

The kids can’t shower, there is no drinking water, the laundry won’t be done today.

At least this time, when the water main burst on Severn St, Island Bay, Wellington, he had made his Sunday morning coffee.

Cox and his family moved to Severn St three years ago. The first few times the water went off due to pipe problems, it was OK, he said. ‘‘Now it’s just a joke.’’

He thought Wellington Water was fixing the pipes but then the lockdown came, and he was now unsure if the repairs were ever done.

The worst thing was not knowing how long the water would be off. He followed Wellington Water on Twitter but there were no clues there, nor were there any on Wellington Water’s web page.

Wellington City Council posted a tweet yesterday, saying there was a burst main and oddnumbered houses on Severn St would be without water for up to five hours.

City councillor Fleur Fitzsimons contacted Wellington Water chief executive Colin Crampton yesterday, looking for answers.

‘‘This is a pipe I understand was recently fixed. There have been constant outages and delays for residents on Severn St and surrounding area.

‘‘This community has really borne the brunt of failing pipes and deserve better.’’

Wellington Water said the pipe had not actually been fixed but work was due to start on that in October. Advance work was already under way in Severn St and nearby streets.

The problem had been isolated to 25 homes by midday yesterday.