Repairs could prove costly: water supply

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 512, 16 November 1993, Page 1

Repairs could prove costly: water supply

Repairs to Ohakune' s water supply could cost in excess of $15,000. Residents wer'e advised to boil their water as from last Sunday after ruptures were discovered in the pipelines leading to and from the Ohakune water storage reservoir and in the reservoir liner. The ruptured end of the pipeline was isolated and the raw water bypass to town was brought into service at 5.30pm on Sunday and all air was flushed from the reticulation. A number of possible reasons for the failures

are being investigated and these include: differential settlement between the reservoir and pipelines, undermining due to leakage and the possibility of a fault in the manufacture of the pipework or liner. The Ruapehu District Council's Technical Services Director, Bruce Dobson, said that the exact cause may be impossible to determine but that the designers of the plant, Water Systems Treatment Specialists Ltd, and the council's insurers had been notified of the incident.

In order to repair the work it will be necessary to have new sections of pipework and a new reservoir liner manufactured. It is anticipated that the new components will be installed by this Thursday 18 November. Until such time as repairs are made to the damaged pipelines and the reservoir liner and foundation, water will be supplied to Ohakune via the bypass line and residents are advised to boil all water used for human consumption.