Water-gate: Torrential 'fountain' gushed 20 metres into the air in yet another Wellington pipe burst

Thursday, 28 January 2021

A pipe burst in Aro Valley in January in one of Wellington's numerous recent pipe failures.

Residents of Wellington's Aro Valley gathered in awe as a torrential volume of water flew 20 metres into the air, flooding the central street.

It came just three days after a “very highly critical” wastewater pipe in the central city broke, blocking traffic, and requiring residents to avoid flushing the toilet for two days.

Then, just hours after the Aro Valley pipe burst, another pipe ruptured in Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt.

Wellington’s water woes are a result of decades of underinvestment in water infrastructure.

Last week, a huge fountain erupted in Aro Valley sending torrents of water down Aro St, as Wellington’s pipe network woes continue.

* Central Wellingtonians asked to only flush loo if 'essential', after pipe bursts

* 'Turd taxis' back after a sewerage pipe bursts outside police station

More than 2000 pipe bursts were recorded in Wellington Water’s most recent annual report. (File photo)

Wellington City Council owns 2653 kilometres of pipes, many of which are in poor condition.

Catharine Underwood was on her way to Brooklyn when she saw “this big fountain” in the middle of the road about 3.25pm in Aro Valley. “It was pretty spectacular,” she said.

A large brown pool has been spotted in the Wellington Harbour, likely a result of debris from Aro St washing into the stormwater system.

At first, she thought the water would've been cool to drive through, but reconsidered because she drives a soft-top and had a bike in the back, so she took a detour and continued to her destination.

A pipe burst in Queens St, Wainuiomata, hours after another rupture in Wellingotn city.

Underwood said there was water “everywhere” between Durham St and the Garage Project Taproom.

Heather Paterson was in her shop when she heard the explosion, which ripped up concrete and sent debris flying across the road.

She originally thought the sound was two cars colliding.

“I’d never seen anything like it, all that water and how high it was going. I was thinking about how many thousands of litres were being wasted,” she said.

“It’s just lucky that nobody was hurt and no house was damaged.”

The spray of debris almost certainly would have seriously damaged several cars but for the fact that there were yellow lines on the corner of the street.

Two houses on the opposite side of the road were dripping with water.

A Wellington Water spokeswoman said crews had isolated the broken main and there was no loss of service to residents.

Soon after the rupture, large brown pools of liquid were seen dispersing through the harbour, likely a result of silt and debris from the flooded road washing into the stormwater system.

About 8pm, Fire and Emergency New Zealand was called to a pipe burst in Queens St, Wainuiomata.

Fire fighters were protecting properties in the area from flooding by diverting water and supporting Wellington Water crews.

A Wellington Water spokeswoman said the incident happened in the street's retail area and crews were fixing it.