Waikato District Council is continuing its work to improve the wastewater network in the district.
Following on from the cleaning and inspecting of underground wastewater pipes in areas in Raglan, contractors have moved on to areas of Ngaruawahia and Huntly this month.
Cleaning the pipes will remove blockages caused by objects like nappies, pieces of cloth and wet-wipes.
These blockages can lead to wastewater spills, which is something Council is trying to avoid.
Once clean, the pipes can be inspected via Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras. The inspection provides valuable information about the condition of the pipes which helps Council plan what maintenance is needed.
General Manager Service Delivery, Tim Harty says this work forms an important part of a district-wide assessment into the condition of Council’s underground pipes.
“It is part of Council’s ongoing commitment to improving wastewater infrastructure so that we can minimise any wastewater overflows or leaks,” he says.
The contractors, InterGroup Ltd, are currently working in Ngaruawahia and are due to start the cleaning and CCTV inspection in Huntly around 19 May. Work will continue until the end of June 2017.
Residents in the affected areas will receive letters before work starts in their neighbourhood.
Those letters advise residents to keep toilet lids closed when not in use while contractors are working in their areas. It also recommends adding a weighted object to the top of the toilet lid while cleaning is being carried out in the rare event that it causes a surge in flow in the wastewater pipes.
If there are manholes or access chambers on private property, the owner will be contacted and arrangements will be made.
Council thanks the Huntly and Ngaruawahia communities for their support of this important work.
For more information please contact:
John Brown
Communications Advisor
Waikato District Council
07 824 8633
communications@waidc.govt.nz
