Wellington business frustrations grow over unresolved leaks

Thursday, 11 January 2024

Wellington businesses are increasingly frustrated about leaks in the city amidst warnings of a possible water shortage.

Wellington businesses asked to limit their water use are growing increasingly frustrated about pipes leaking water right outside their doors.

Chris Perkins, an artistic stylist at Jean Jacques Hair Design on Lambton Quay, said they had grown so frustrated they were now chalking the number of days on the pavement since the leak appeared.

Day 27 and the leak outside Jean Jacques Hair Design on Lambton Quay still has not been fixed.

“It’s still there. We are counting the days now. We’re on day 27.”

Perkins said the leak had grown since it first appeared. “Compared to what it was when it was just a little leak, it’s massive now.”

The council had been called many times but was reportedly unable to repair the leak as it was still searching for plans.

It was especially frustrating for the hair studio which would likely be heavily impacted by any further water restrictions for businesses.

From left: Rachel Pope, Jean Jacques Nakouzy and Chris Perkins of Jean Jacques Hair Design are frustrated about an unresolved leak and say it’s getting worse.

“There’s been no communication from council about what this will mean for the business,” Perkins said.

“It’s really frustrating when there’s water flowing out the door.”

For more than three months, Dierdre Johnstone, who works at a childcare centre on Tinakori Road, has been watching a leak “haemorrhaging” water.

A water leak on Tinakori Road in Thorndon.

“Three months is a long time and a lot of water.”

She said multiple concerns had been laid with the council about the leak, which she worried had got worse over the summer break and was now a fast moving, constant stream.

“We know it’s on the list,” Johnstone said.

“It’s frustrating when there are water shortages and we are trying to teach the children to be sustainable.”

The centre had limited some of its water play activities in response.

Johnstone was empathetic about the challenges involved and understood the need to triage leaks.

“I am very sympathetic if they have 3000 to fix.”

A spokesperson for Wellington Water confirmed the leak on Lambton Quay was reported to it three weeks ago, and it had been assessed as a low to medium priority job. Eight notifications from members of the public had been logged about it.

Wellington Water would try to fix the leak as soon as possible, they said, but the increasing number of leaks in the region meant the focus was on repairing high priority leaks first, as they were the biggest risk to the network and public health and safety.

The biggest leaks had the most impact on water supply, and many were underground and not easy to spot.

The latest Wellington Water statistics show that of the 3050 leaks around Wellington, 754 had been fixed in November.

Wellington Water has warned residents there could be water shortages this summer, and is encouraging people to consider buying water storage tanks.

Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) recommended households had an emergency supply of at least 20 litres of water per person, per day for seven days, equivalent to 140 litres per person.