Drought resilience work

  • Project typePlanning
  • Project value$1.1 million
  • Project scheduleOngoing
  • Contractor nameForte Civil
A graphic showing pipe cracking for drought resilience.

Work is underway to install a new $1.1 million Hātea River pumping watermain as part of a series of drought resilience projects.

The new watermain will allow Council to pump more water from the Hātea River during dry weather, saving dam water. Contractors Forte Civil are installing the 1.5km watermain along Whareora Road from AH Reed Park to the Hātea River bridge.

Image showing pipe cracking works at Whareora Road for drought resilience.

The watermain is being installed using a technique called pipe cracking. Pipe cracking uses a high strength hydraulic ram and a hardened steel cone. The new watermain is pulled into the old watermain, which is cracked apart.

A graphic showing pipe cracking for drought resilience.

The advantage of using this technique is the road surface is opened in a small pit every 100m along the pipeline route and the road surface is not disturbed in between the pits – this saves money and reduces traffic delays for the public.

The old 300mm diameter watermain is being replaced with a 350mm diameter high pressure rating watermain.

A second phase of works to replace a drinking watermain in Whareora Road that has been breaking frequently due to its age was completed in October 2020.

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