Maurice renovates Auckland water mains

Work in pipeline
By MICHELLE COOKE - East And Bays Courier
Last updated 05:00 26/06/2009

The east and bays area has three major water projects in the pipeline.
The water supply at Remuera and Mt Wellington are currently being upgraded, while work on the Hobson pipeline is continuing in preparation for the tunnel to open next year.
Auckland city councillor and finance and strategy committee chairman Douglas Armstrong says water prices have been comparatively low over the last 10 years and an increase in the coming year is inevitable to meet the community’s water requirements.
Watercare says that construction of the Orakei Domain Pump Station, which will pump water through the Hobson pipeline from Orakei to Parnell, should be finished by September.
In December, the tunnel and pump station will be ready for a final overview and assessment, and in July 2010, the ageing above-water sewer pipe will be demolished.
The total cost of the project is $118 million.
Watercare is halfway through replacing two Remuera pipelines, built around 1910, that were discovered to have route intrusion and corrosion.
The first stage, which focused on the pipeline from Saint Kentigern School to Sonia Ave is complete, and work is under way on the pipeline from Burwood Cres to Spencer St.
Senior engineer Maurice Lubbock says Watercare is using a cured-in-place process because it will have minimal impact on the community.
A resin-saturated tube will be pulled into the sewer pipe and heated.
The heating expands the tube creating a tight-fitting and corrosion resistant replacement pipe.
It will be secured to the sides of the older pipe so removing it is not an issue.
If the older pipe had to be removed it could cause major disruption to the properties that run above it, Mr Lubbock says.
The cured-in-place pipe will extend the life of the sewer by 100 years and comes at a cost of $1.6m.
Watercare is upgrading water supplies to cater for the growing population, in particular the Stonefields development in Mt Wellington.
New pipelines will be put in place along St Johns Rd, College Rd and Merton Rd. Other watermains in St Heliers and Orakei will be upgraded or relocated.
Upgrading of the St Johns Reservoir pipework has already been completed as part of this ongoing project.