Wainuiomata has emerged as the most leak-prone suburb in the Wellington region, according to recent data from Wellington Water. Since 2020, it has consistently recorded the highest number of reported leaks compared to other suburbs in Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua, and Wellington.
Data released under the Local Government Official Information Act revealed that between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021 alone, Wainuiomata reported 593 leaks, marking it as a focal point for water infrastructure challenges in the region.
There are numerous ongoing concerns about water management and infrastructure maintenance within Wainuiomata, highlighting the need for targeted efforts to address and mitigate water leakage issues in the region.
Lower Hutt mayor Campbell Barry explained to RNZ that Wainuiomata’s high leak rate can largely be attributed to its size, rather than indicating a specific problem unique to that suburb compared to others in the city.
Tim Harty, head of operations and engineering at Wellington Water, highlighted that the age and placement of pipes play significant roles in the occurrence of leaks. He noted that the materials used for pipes and the quality of installation are also contributing factors to the frequency of leaks.
