From golden toilet cisterns to sewage-filled backyards, plumbing woes have been making headlines across New Zealand. These incidents highlight a range of issues, including shoddy workmanship, unexpected discoveries, and systemic failures in infrastructure and oversight, impacting public health and finances.
Masterton’s Sewage Saga
Masterton residents have been battling a long-standing issue of sewage flooding their backyards during bad weather. This unpleasant problem, which leaves human waste and toilet paper floating in properties, has been attributed to:
- Plumbing and drainage mistakes: Specifically, cross-connections where stormwater pipes have been incorrectly linked to the wastewater system.
- Undetected connections: Many of these cross-connections are hidden underground, requiring physical work to identify and rectify.
The Masterton District Council is implementing a collaborative approach with property owners and conducting smoke testing and a pilot trial to pinpoint the sources of the overflows. This is expected to be a long-term project due to the potential costs involved.
The Curious Case of the Golden Cistern
New Plymouth’s public toilets became the scene of an unusual incident when a standard toilet cistern was stolen and replaced with a poorly painted, non-functional gold replica. This bizarre act, reminiscent of a high-profile gold toilet theft in the UK, prompted calls to both a plumber and the police. The New Plymouth District Council quickly replaced the makeshift golden cistern, restoring the toilet to working order.
Shoddy Work in Lower Hutt
A Lower Hutt plumber, Vincent Cookson of Virtual Plumbing, was found guilty of negligent and incompetent work at an 86-apartment retirement village. The issues included:
- Compromised showers with bacteria buildup.
- Problems in a rubbish room.
Cookson was fined $7200 and ordered to pay $36,000 in costs. While he argued that others, including the Hutt City Council, builder, and engineer, shared responsibility, the case underscored the importance of a supervising plumber’s duties.
Christchurch Hospital’s Plumbing Predicament
The construction of Christchurch Hospital’s Hagley Building has been plagued by delays and cost overruns, with plumbing issues adding to the complexity. The main problem involved:
- Incorrect pipe installation: The plumber, Australian-owned PHP, installed five different types of pipes instead of the single specified type.
- Certification confusion: Engineering firm Beca, overseeing the project, initially stated the pipes were retrospectively certified with WaterMark, a claim later refuted by the Australian Building Codes Board. The Ministry of Health clarified that while WaterMark certification wasn’t strictly required, Beca had conducted tests to the same standard.
This tangle highlights the challenges in large-scale construction projects and the critical need for clear communication and adherence to specifications to avoid significant risks and costs.
Get In Touch With Our Team
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Sources
- Plumbing mistakes key cause of sewage in flooded Masterton backyards, RNZ.
- Plumber, police called after gold cistern swap at New Plymouth public toilet, RNZ.
- Lower Hutt plumber found guilty of shoddy work at retirement village, RNZ.
- Christchurch Hospital building in hot water over plumbing tangle, RNZ.