Watercare, together with Auckland Council, has begun testing pipes for illegal stormwater connections in Glen Innes as part of a new Auckland-wide campaign to reduce wet-weather overflows.
The drainage systems at 900 residential properties are being tested for damaged pipes, surface runoff, incorrect stormwater and wastewater connections and non-compliant gulley traps.
The inspection work will directly benefit the environment by reducing the amount of stormwater entering and overwhelming the wastewater network, which can result in overflows to streams and beaches, including nearby Omaru Creek. Auckland Council will notify property owners of any issues and will follow-up to make sure problems are fixed.
The work is welcomed by Maungakiekie-Tamaki councillor Josephine Bartley: “It’s good to come out here and see what Watercare and Auckland Council are doing in collaboration because that’s how we’re going to sort out our water quality issues— our Government, our industry and community need to play a role too.
"You see how much pollution is going into the Omaru Creek and you wonder why we’re not making a dent. We’ve got a whole load of development happening in this area, so it’s good to see this work in action.”
Local resident and Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board member, Chris Makoare was pleased to see the work being undertaken: “This is about our waterways. If we want clean beaches, if we want to swim at our beaches, then this is about putting wastewater where it should be and putting stormwater where it should be. In the end, we’ll all benefit from this initiative.”
In addition to the inspection programme, Watercare is undertaking a $38 million wastewater upgrade in the Glen Innes area. Later this month, a large new wastewater pipe will be constructed along Taniwha Street, Elstree Ave leading to a pump station in Maybury Reserve.
The 2.1-metre wide pipe will act as storage tunnel, storing the equivalent of 50,000 bathtubs of wastewater. The current pump station will also be demolished and replaced. The project is due to be completed in 2020.
