New watermains are being laid in three Ponsonby streets to replace old and damaged pipes that are prone to bursting.

Auckland city's water and wastewater utility company Metrowater is installing 400 metres of new plastic pipe in Blake St, Prosford St and Sheehan St. The work will mean a more reliable water supply to houses and buildings in the streets, says Operations Manager Raveen Jaduram.

"The pipe upgrading also takes into account the increasing development in the area, and will ensure that water supply will meet demand as growth continues," he says.

Metrowater is aiming for minimal disruptions to water supply during the project.

"Some temporary shutdowns of up to four hours will be necessary, but we'll be notifying any affected residents three days in advance," says Mr Jaduram.

Mr Jaduram says most of the work is being carried out using "trenchless" technology, which eliminates the need to dig up large areas for trenches to lay the pipes along. Instead, a drilling machine sits above the ground and feeds the new pipe through underneath.

The project is costing $150,000 and is expected to be completed by mid-August.

Ends

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

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