Issue date
A bypass solution aimed at reducing the overflow of raw wastewater into the Waitematā Harbour is finally operational - almost three weeks after the collapse of a sewerage pipe in central Auckland - but a rāhui across the harbour remains in place.
In a statement issued shortly after 3pm on Tuesday, Watercare's chief operations officer Mark Bourne praised crew for planning and building the bypass "in record time".
Work on the bypass started on Thursday, September 28, after a sinkhole formed above the Ōrākei Main Sewer and the pipe was blocked when the land caved in.
Raw wastewater has continued to pour into the Waitematā Harbour at an unprecedented rate, shutting over two dozen Auckland beaches.
Local iwi Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei placed a rāhui across the Waitematā Harbour late last month, prohibiting sailing, swimming, fishing, paddling, diving and other recreational activities.
“It’s been a monumental effort from our staff, contractors and suppliers to get the bypass planned, the pipes laid, the pump station chamber excavated and concreted, and have six large temporary pumps installed and tested," Bourne said.
“Normally this type of project would take several months to deliver, so I’m incredibly proud of the whole team involved for their hard work and dedication to this critical project. Knowing that this work was vital to prevent the high-volume overflows into the Waitematā Harbour has been a huge motivator for everyone involved. I’d like to pass on our sincere thanks to those inside and outside of Watercare who have helped us along the way.”
The temporary pump station can handle flows up to 600 litres per second.
“We expect that this will be sufficient to handle normal flows in dry weather. But these temporary pumps are more susceptible to blockages than our standard network pumps, so it will be more important than ever for people to only flush the 3Ps – pee, poo and toilet paper. Please don’t flush wet wipes or any other rubbish," Bourne said.
“Just as there was prior to the sinkhole developing, in wet weather there will still be overflows into the Waitematā Harbour. This is because some of the catchments that feed into the Ōrākei Main Sewer are historic combined stormwater/wastewater catchments. Overflows from these combined networks are commonplace in wet weather, but they will be more frequent than normal until we have wastewater flowing through the Ōrākei Main Sewer again.
“For now, the rāhui put in place by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei for the inner Waitematā Harbour remains in place."
Bourne encouraged Aucklanders to keep checking the Watercare website for updates as well as Safeswim for the latest water quality information.
