Raetihi waste systems overhaul a 'dire need'

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 565, 6 December 1994, Page 1

Raetihi waste systems overhaul a 'dire need'

The prolonged spell of wet weather during October/November highlighted the "dysfunctional" sewerage and stormwater systems in Raetihi. That was the message from Ruapehu District Council's services asset manager Peter Jackson to the Waimarino Community Board last Thursday. Extensive cracking together with dislocated and illegal connections between stormwater and sewerage systems had led to widespread flooding in the low-lying areas of the town and to one of the two pumping stations being flooded. The heavy and continuous rains had caused gully traps to overflow and manhole covers to lift under the excessive pressure resulting in the discharge of raw sewage onto the ground adjacent to the Raetihi Stream. According to Ruapehu District Council area south engineer Don

Sattler it was the worst he had ever seen. Board member Bob Peck asked if the removal or disconnection of illegal stormwater-to-sewer connections could have avoided the problem. He said that "there was a need for the community to move fairly quickly to prevent a repeat" of what could be a serious health problem. Mr Jackson said in normal circumstances these disconnections would have helped ease the situation but not in this case as the whole system was completely overwhelmed with an abnormally high ground water level. He told Board members that the problem needed to be dealt with immediately ... "we can't afford to wait." When Board members queried the cost of overhauling and up-grading the entire sewerage and stormwater systems he acknowledged that this would be significant but suggested it could be done in stages.