‘Critical’ wastewater pipeline damaged at Pukete
Damage to a “critical” pipeline connecting the Pukete wastewater plant to the Waikato River hasn’t led to any unauthorised treated discharges to the river, the city council says.
The latest mishap, which caused an as yet unquantified amount of damage, follows a number of wastewater incidents in the city over the years.
A report for Thursday’s strategic risk and assurance committee shows on February 15 a contractor unexpectedly struck and damaged the top of a treated wastewater outfall pipe.
The 2.2 metre diameter pipe, at a depth of 6m, conveys wastewater from the last treatment step within the plant to the outfall structure located in the Waikato River.
There was extensive damage to the top section of the pipe but the lower section remained functional.
Works were carried out to ensure discharges could continue, including stabilising the ground around the damaged pipe, managing the flow, and pumping around the damaged section.
An investigation into the cause of the damage is being completed as further work to re-instate full functional capacity is progressed.
In a statement yesterday, three waters manager Maire Porter said the council worked quickly to set up a pipeline bypass, which means any unauthorised spills are very unlikely while the pipe is being fixed.
A spokesperson also said there was no risk of such spills at the time of the incident. Once an investigation was finished “we will have a clearer idea of who will pay for the work” on the insured pipeline, Porter said. Costs are yet to be confirmed.
Waikato Regional Council and iwi had been notified, and regional council staff had visited the site to view repair progress.
The city’s infrastructure and transport committee chairperson, deputy mayor Angela O’Leary, said councillors had been promptly briefed and emergency works had been authorised.
“I’m 100% confident we’re all over this and it will be rectified.”
O’Leary said she hadn’t been alerted to any risk of a big unauthorised spill because of the damage.