Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Finding a major washout in the Hawera western sewer main was not exactly the start to the New Year the South Taranaki District Council (STDC) was hoping for, but that’s what they got yesterday morning when they discovered the main sewer line which runs through the Egmont A and P Showground had been completely washed out leaving a 10 metre gap in the line.
Late yesterday workers were able to temporarily fix the break by plugging the pipes and diverting sewerage by pumping it around the broken main. STDC group manager of engineering services, Neil McCann says a permanent repair will take several days to complete. Over the next three years the Council plans to conduct a major review and upgrade of the western main sewer line.
Mr McCann says the washout was caused by the excessive rainfall the area received over the previous four days.
“The causeway containing the sewer main became unstable after being saturated from the recent heavy rain. This led to the slip which took out the sewer main,” he says.
“Fortunately most of the sewerage from the ruptured pipe was contained in a natural gully beside the sewer main; however some sewerage also appears to have entered a small tributary which feeds into the Waihi Stream. There are four farms which draw water from the Waihi Stream for their stock and we have arranged to tanker water to these farmers,” says Mr McCann. “The Regional council will take water samples from the Waihi Stream so we know when the water is safe for stock to drink and expect it should be all clear within a day or so.”
Mr McCann says a sign has also been put up at Waihi Beach advising of the discharge and warns people not to gather shellfish until the sign has been removed.
