New Waipori pump improves drainage reliability on Taieri Plain

A new submersible pump has been commissioned at the West Taieri drainage scheme's Waipori pumping station.

Members of the West Taieri Drainage Liaison Group inspected the new pump on Thursday.

The installation of the new pump, which cost about $320,000 to construct, forms part of a programme by ORC to renew and replace land drainage and flood control assets.

The new pump is one of two pumps, known as D pumps, which have been replaced as part of the programme, which forms part of ORC's Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP).

The first pump was replaced in 2008. The original pumping station was built in the late 1920s and the pumps' second-hand submersible components were added in 1989.

Three much older pumps, known as F pumps, are also programmed for replacement. Design work for this will commence shortly.

ORC director of environmental engineering and natural hazards Gavin Palmer said the new pumps should be more reliable than their predecessors-one of which failed during the April 2006 flood.

They would also be easier to gain access to and maintain, Dr Palmer said.

The West Taieri scheme provides land drainage to about 8000 hectares of predominantly pastoral farmland and the Waipori station is one of three servicing the scheme. Most of this area is below current mean sea level.

West Taieri drainage liaison group chairman Neil Gamble said his group was pleased the new pump had been commissioned, as it would ease concerns farmers had had in the past about the unreliability of the old pumps.

Mr Gamble said that barring unforeseen circumstances, the upgrade of the pumping station should improve the reliability of its performance for some time to come.