Two new leaks add to Wellington Water’s to-do list

Thursday, 25 January 2024

A leak on Newlands Rd spraying water over a metre in the air.

Newlands has two new water leaks with rushing water pouring down the main route in and out of the suburb.

The main leak was covered by a road cone on a narrow footpath but when removed, sprayed water roughly a metre into the air.

That led to a stream pouring down Newlands Rd where it gathered by a bus stop.

However, closer to that bus stop was where another leak has developed and resident Jaymie Subecz said that one started with a bang.

“Honestly, it exploded one day.

“I came out with my son and there was a black thing just in front of the bus stop. At first I thought someone left their wallet but when I got there it was just bits of road.”

The Newlands Rd leak that residents saw “explode”, throwing bots of asphalt towards a bus stop

Another resident, Donna Tait, had spotted the leaking water overflowing from the gutter and pooling in their neighbours’ driveway across the road.

“I’ve seen them out there sweeping it away around their car and back on to the road.”

It’s yet another task on Wellington Water’s long to-do list of just over 3000 leaks.

The region is currently losing 60 million litres of treated water a day is being lost through leaks. The problem is priced at $30 billion to fix over the next three decades.

Wellington’s dry summer has resulted in water restrictions being put in place. The current level two restrictions ban the use of outdoor sprinklers and irrigation systems on residential properties and a drinking water emergency could be declared if the situations deteriorates further.

Local authorities are continuing to water their facilities on a restricted basis as Wellington City Council operations manager William Melville said sports and events spaces needed to be maintained to prevent expensive repair work.

If you look closely you can see the leak spurting after the road cone that was keeping pedestrians dry was removed.

“If the grass dies we’d be staring down the barrel of a hefty renovation fee to remove the dead grass, reseed, water, and fertilise the space for regeneration.

“That’s over $1 million worth of renovation.”

Shantanu Chandra, a resident near one of the Newlands leaks, said the response times for repairs were too slow.

“I’ve reported these leaks three or four times since before December but they keep telling me I’m still in the queue.

“We’re wasting so much water every day and now we have these restrictions coming in. It just seems like it’s going to get worse.”