The repair of a pipe seeping sewage into the ocean in Napier is being beset by constant delays.
The repair of a pipe seeping sewage into the ocean in Napier is being beset by constant delays.
Workers get ready to fix a sewage pipe in Nelson which is leaking into the ocean. Photo: Supplied / Napier City Council
Hawke's Bay Regional Council has threatened Napier City Council (NCC) with prosecution if it does not fix the leak by 30 October, but extended that deadline to 1 January after problems with getting it fixed.
The city council assured residents the environmental effect was "very low". It said its team was monitoring the pollution, and that monitoring had been independently assessed by Niwa.
The pipe, built in the 1960s, has been problematic from its early days due to poor construction and design.
Historically the pipe had not been regularly inspected, but an inspection in August 2018 found a small leak about 70m from the shore. There was more significant seepage about 700m from the shore.
In late April this year, another leak due to the failure of an old repair was found even closer to shore.
Repairs started in late September and even more leaks were found.
Sometimes divers returned in the morning to find their hard work of previous days undone by the ocean swells and currents overnight.
Some leaks were repaired, but serious problems remained.
There had been problems with old fiberglass joint and past repair attempts, making it even more complicated.
They were working towards a concrete caisson, or box, as a solution.
"This is not an elegant solution but is able to be installed and is anticipated to stop the leak" a city council report said.
NCC put $2 million aside for the repair. So far it had cost $750,000 but another $1.3 million was expected, bringing the project $50,000 over budget.
It intended to replace the pipe in the future.
In a statement, the Hawke's Bay Regional Council's team leader of urban and industrial compliance Jack Blunden said the city council asked to extend the deadline due to recent flooding emergency and for "fabrication" of the repair.
"Similar to the first extension, it was deemed necessary to allow the repairs to be undertaken effectively and safely," he said.