Don’t rush to flush
Don’t rush to flush
Watercare Asks Customers to Think Twice as Power Outages Put Pressure on Wastewater Network
Watercare is calling on customers across Eastern and Central suburbs of Auckland city to think twice before flushing the toilet.
The company’s chief operations officer, David Worsnop, said that the fire early this morning at the Penrose substation has left more than 50 of Watercare’s wastewater pumping stations without power. Watercare has deployed emergency generators and eductor trucks to ensure that wastewater is contained within its system.
However, Watercare is concerned that further delays in restoring power to some of its pumping stations could stretch the capacity of its wastewater network.
“We have commissioned generators from Auckland and Hamilton and connected these to our large wastewater pumping stations. We have additional generators being transported from as far away as New Plymouth, and are working to ensure all wastewater continues to be pumped through to the treatment plants,” said Mr Worsnop.
“We are confident these preparations will get us through.
Mr Worsnop said people could help by minimising the amount of wastewater entering the network.
“That applies particularly to customers without power in eastern suburbs from Newmarket to St Heliers, Glendowie and Glen Innes.
“Having said that, properties in the Central City and Inner West as far as Pt Chevalier and through Mt Albert, Mt Roskill and Mt Eden also feed into pumping stations that are currently vulnerable, so we would ask people in those areas to assist by minimising their water use and reducing demand on the wastewater network until electricity supply is restored,” said Mr Worsnop.
ends