The Kahika wastewater pipeline – part of a $22 million package to increase the resiliency in the wastewater network and cater for growth in Beach Haven and Glenfield – is now in service.
The new pipeline greatly reduces the risk of overflows and complex repairs around the southern tip of Kaipātiki Creek.
The 2-kilometre pipeline extends from Kahika Pump Station and travels up Kaipātiki Rd to connect into the existing wastewater network on Easton Park Parade.
It replaces a 50-year-old pipeline that has experienced four major failures since 2017, resulting in complex repairs and significant clean-up costs.
“The worry was that if a failure occurred at the northern side of Kaipātiki Creek or the bridge that carried the old pipeline over the creek, the cost of the clean-up and repairs – and ultimately to the environment – would be huge,” says Watercare project manager Alastair Stewart.
“This new pipeline addresses that risk.”
Stewart says that to help ensure the resilience of the pipeline, it has been built using 600mm polyethylene and 600mm fibreglass pipes.
“The new pipeline is more resilient to internal abrasion and can carry twice as much wastewater as the old one, enabling planned development for the area.
“It also goes directly underneath Kaipātiki Creek instead of across a pipe bridge to further reduce the risk of overflows into the environment.”
Stewart says that with the pipeline now installed underneath Kaipātiki Rd, crews are finishing off rerouting works for five local network sewers in nearby streets and within private properties.
“As part of this project, our contractors are diverting local networks away from the current wastewater pipeline to the Kahika pump station, which will pump wastewater directly into the new pipeline.
“We expect the diversion works will be completed by September, 2024.
“Work to decommission the old Kahika pipeline and network catchments will also begin later this month by in-filling them with grout to prevent water from getting into the old network.
“We want to thank residents, especially those affected by traffic and noise disruptions caused by these works, for their patience as we worked to get this critical infrastructure in place.
“We’re working to have the Kahika wastewater package completed by the end of October.”