Tauwharenikau River Water Pipe Repairs
On behalf of South Wairarapa District Council, we are working to replace the water pipe that crosses the Tauwharenikau River and serves the Featherston network.
If you have any questions about this work, please contact:
Wellington Water, 04 912 4400
Latest Updates
Capital project delivery will be removed from the Wellington Water Service Agreement with SWDC from 1 July 2025.
PHASE ONE - completed
Current Status
Following public consultation, South Wairarapa District Council (SWDC) recently approved their transition strategy to gradually withdraw from the Wellington Water model and develop a water services delivery plan with three other councils instead – Masterton, Carterton, and Tararua District Councils. This is commonly known as the “Wai + T” model, with a full go-live no later than 1 July 2027.
The first part of the transition will take place on 1 July 2025, when capital project delivery will be removed from the Wellington Water Service Agreement with SWDC, and this work will be delivered by council.
Wellington Water will continue to provide operations and maintenance services for SWDC until arrangements are put in place to also transition those elements across.
Featherston’s water network serves a population of approximately 2,500 people with 36 kilometres of watermain. The watermain is supplied by a transmission pipe from the Waiohine Water Treatment Plant and crosses the Tauwharenikau River.
In 2021 Wellington Water (WWL) identified that the section of the pipe which crosses the river had become exposed due to changing environmental conditions resulting in erosion of the pipeline and scouring of the riverbed beneath. The recommendation to Council was to repair with urgency. The final approval to proceed was received in early 2025.
All Updates
Following public consultation, South Wairarapa District Council (SWDC) recently approved their transition strategy to gradually withdraw from the Wellington Water model and develop a water services delivery plan with three other councils instead – Masterton, Carterton, and Tararua District Councils. This is commonly known as the “Wai + T” model, with a full go-live no later than 1 July 2027.
The first part of the transition will take place on 1 July 2025, when capital project delivery will be removed from the Wellington Water Service Agreement with SWDC, and this work will be delivered by council.
Wellington Water will continue to provide operations and maintenance services for SWDC until arrangements are put in place to also transition those elements across.
The rock protection area has been completed which will provide further resilience during the winter period until the replacement works can take place. This is expected to be in summer when the river levels drop sufficiently.
Works are currently underway with the work to protect the exposed water pipe during the peak winter period when the water flow is high.
The protection work involves placing large rocks behind the exposed pipe to prevent scouring under the pipe which, by changing the water current, will promote the build-up of sediment in front of the pipe. This build-up will protect the pipe from debris coming from upstream.
The works are due to be completed by 9 May.