Hawea Pump Update

A new pump for the Hawea water scheme is expected to be delivered tomorrow, Queenstown Lakes District Council utilities committee chairman John Mann said.

The unexpected failure of a water intake pump at Hawea, last week meant an urgent call for water conservation in the area.

The affected pump was one of two pumps which ensured the Hawea water supply. The second pump had continued to feed the supply however residents have been asked to limit watering to hand-held hoses, in moderation, between the hours of 5pm and 7am.

“There is clearly some need for urgency and the decision was taken to have the replacement pump delivered regardless and in the event that the failed pump cannot be repaired then the new pump will be on hand,” Councillor Mann said.

Divers were due to inspect the pump and possibly lift it and replace it on Friday.


“It’s possible that the intake filter has become blocked, the divers will clear the intake but if that fails to restart the pump then it will be replaced.,” Mr Mann said. It was hoped the water supply could be topped up and fully restored by next weekend (December 15) and the water restriction lifted.


As a result of the Hawea failure the council would propose additional budget next year for revising operational and maintenance plans for all systems, QLDC engineering services general manager Mark Kunath said.


“That would include improved contingency planning to get systems back to 100% as soon as possible and ensuring that the levels of service are understood and agreed. And having an agreed Health and Safety Site Specific Plan in place with Contact Energy, which owns the intake structure, and a spare pump in the workshop will need to be incorporated into the Hawea plan,” Mr Kunath said.


In the meantime the Hawea water system was planned for an upgrade in the coming three years – a stand alone intake would need to be considered, he said.


“Losing a pump on any water system at this time of year - this year in particular because it is dry and the long range forecast is predicting a continued dry - will result in a temporary water-use restriction and it will always take time to get it fixed," Mr Kunath said


There was additional redundancy in the Queenstown and Wanaka systems because of their size. “They each have more than one intake with more than one pump and the pumps are more accessible than Hawea’s,” Mr Kunath said.