In December last year, Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters team started a project to separate the combined stormwater and wastewater systems in the Ōkahu Bay area. The project aims to reduce the overflows into the bay, which are the main cause of water quality issues.
Since the project started, the council has inspected 792 drainage systems on private property to determine whether they use combined stormwater and wastewater pipes. Design consultants are now working on separating the combined systems – a project expected to take until the end of the year.
Ōrākei Ward Councillor Desley Simpson is pleased that the council has started the project.
“This process will improve water quality in Ōkahu Bay and deliver quality stormwater and wastewater infrastructure for Ōrākei,” she said.
“With Ōkahu Bay becoming a popular water sports and recreational destination, the urgency is even greater and the Healthy Waters project team is making encouraging progress.”
Watercare has also started investigating public wastewater pipes to assess their condition.
This work is expected to be finished by January 2019 and will help determine whether further upgrades are required to the wastewater network as part of the separation programme.
