Generators prevent wastewater overflows in Raglan

The Greenslade Road generator installed in Raglan in March has already done its bit to prevent an overflow into the harbour.

One of Waikato District Council’s portable generators was also used for the first time after the Marine Parade pump station lost power in early April. The generator ran uninterrupted for more than 24 hours and almost certainly prevented an overflow from occurring.

The generators are just a small piece of work which forms part of Council’s Wastewater Overflow Continuous Improvement Programme and will ensure the pumps in the area continue to work if there is a power outage. This will in turn protect the harbour from overflows.

Portable generators have been used in Raglan during this year’s storms to keep the pump stations operating when the town experiences loss of power, but as Greenslade Road is tricky to navigate, especially in wet weather and in the middle of the night, it was decided a permanent generator was needed at this location.  

General Manager Service Delivery Ian Cathcart says the back-up and portable generators are an important part of a district-wide commitment to reducing overflows or wastewater leaks into our environment.

Cleaning, inspections and smoke testing also continues in Raglan to assist this work.

Mr Cathcart says the public also have an important part to play in our objective of reducing wastewater spills across the Waikato district.

About 80% of wastewater overflows in the district from 2014-16 were caused by blockages.

The main causes of these blockages were foreign objects such as wipes, clothing, sanitary pads and nappies being flushed down toilets, and grease, oil and food scraps being poured down the kitchen sink.

Council continues to roll out a public education campaign that aims to inform the community that they should only flush pee, poo and paper down the loo and that grease, fats and oils should be disposed in the bin instead of down the sink.

Mr Cathcart says that if the public buy-in to messages contained in the education programme it’ll be a win-win situation for the council and the community.

“If the council and the public can work together to reduce the number of blockages in our wastewater network it will go a long way to achieve our goal of protecting our environment and ensuring our wastewater pipes are working more efficiently.”

ENDS

For more information please contact:
Teresa Hancock
Communications Advisor
Waikato District Council
027 706 5776
communications@waidc.govt.nz