My Account
Residents in a Red Beach street affected by a significant sewage leak say it is a clear example of failing infrastructure.
The sewage leak started on Thursday, August 25 and, for some residents, the clean-up was still incomplete four days later.
Around six residential properties and the Muddy Toes childcare centre, were affected. The childcare centre was not able to close, but the situation was managed to keep everyone safe, owner Rochanna Weston says. Watercare worked with the centre and helped clean up and sanitise.
Dr Robert Brown says sewage began running across his driveway, and the neighbours’ property early Thursday morning. A Watercare crew was on site around an hour later, but Dr Brown says it took a while to identify the problem. Contractors advised residents they were waiting for an excavator but that resources were stretched.
Meanwhile, the pump station was turned off to stop the flow – a vacuum loader was used to control the wastewater at the pump station.
Sucker trucks were on site early the following day to manage peak flows, while repairs to the pipe took place, and were completed on Saturday.
“It posed a considerable health risk,” Dr Brown says. “I hope we don’t all get hepatitis.”
He says this, coupled with a burst water main the week before in the same road, is why the peninsula needs the proposed water and wastewater constraint to reduce the amount of density housing that can be built.” (HM August 22)
A Watercare spokesperson says the leak was caused by a failed rising main and the slight delay with repairs was to do with sourcing the right parts, not the age of the pipes.
Dr Brown says there was a clean-up, but some residents were left unhappy and said more needed to be done.
“My driveway hasn’t been cleaned and de-contaminated,” he says. “I would do it myself but I don’t want to get close to it, so I’m waiting for the next heavy rain.”
“I hope everyone around here knows how important it is to make submissions on Council’s plan change that could put the water and wastewater constraint in place.”
Submissions are open until September 29. Info: ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/tags/growing-together/
