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Council contractors work on damaged sewer pipe

Sunday 6 June 2010, 2:44PM

By New Zealand Police

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WHAKATANE

Whakatane District Council contractors are working to repair the damaged sewer pipe under Maraetotara Stream in Ohope.

The Council’s Manager Utilities Santha Agas believes the sewer pipe was probably damaged during the flood event on Tuesday 1 June 2010.

Mr Agas says the Council moved quickly to stop any further spills as soon as it was discovered on Saturday.

“We plugged the damaged section of the sewer pipe, blocking it from use and this stopped any further spills. We have a suction tank at a manhole to provide a sewage disposal service for the affected homes”.

He said the Council is working a quickly as it can to repair the pipe.

“We hope to have it repaired on Tuesday. We require some equipment which has to come from Auckland before we can complete the repairs.”

In the meantime, the Council is urging residents and visitors not to swim in the beach around the Maraetotara stream. Water samples are being collected for testing for potential health risks and concerns.