Mamaku water bore fixed
15 January 2016
The water bore of the Rotorua township of Mamaku is now fully operational and water conservation measures can now be lifted.
The pump and motor have been reinstalled and after testing carried out earlier this week, the system is back to normal capacity, says Rotorua Lakes Council water operations manager Eric Cawte.
Mamaku residents were asked to conserve water while the main bore pump was fixed as the back-up bore has less capacity. Mr Cawte said the issues at Mamaku have been a timely reminder to all Rotorua residents to conserve water and keep a check on water use, particularly during the summer months.
The council thanks Mamaku residents for their assistance and for their ongoing patience while the bore pump was fixed.
Average daily water use in Mamaku is about 240,000 litres a day but this can rise to more than 310,000 litres a day in very dry weather. The standby bore was able to cope during the pump breakdown due to people conserving water.
The old bore ran really well during this time but would not be able to cope with what we'd normally expect during a run of hot weather so that's why residents have been asked to conserve water.
Mamaku's main bore pump broke down on 29 December and the standby bore, which was once the township's main water supply, was able to be put to use.
The problem with the main bore was found to be with the electric motor in the pump, 270m down the bore, and new parts and reinstallation were required. Electrical contractors then moved in to undertake reconnections and that was followed by testing before the bore was fully operational again.