SERVICE MAIN UPGRADE TUTAKIMOA
A couple of weeks ago our field crews were engaged in works to replace an old galvanised pipeline that had been leaking for some time near the Te Aponga drive way. According to some sources this pipeline was laid over 30+ years ago when the original TAU building was established including houses up the hill to accommodate their expat staff. These are some of the more challenging tasks for our TTV network teams locating firstly, and finding the resources to upgrade these old metal pipelines that are dotted across the island.
It was a super busy Saturday for our network, engineering teams and contractor T&M who were up nice and early on for the big job in Tutakimoa. They were off to a good start at 6:30, exposing the old pipe and getting the trenching done. Then a storm came along which pretty much drenched the whole island and caused all sorts of mayhem for the boys.
By the time they finished pressure testing and making a couple of adjustments it was well after 10PM. This work will plug another leak in the system and improve water pressure for area.
Well done team for a massive shift.
NZ MFAT Hon Nanaia Mahuta Visit
On Thursday 13 October, NZ Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Nanaia Mahuta and delegates along with resident NZ High Commissioner Tui Dewes, Avatiu MP Albert Nicholas, NZ High Commission staff met landowners and TTV CEO Apii Timoti and water tech Patty Taea for a tour of Avatiu intake.
Patty Taea did an excellent job in explaining how the water treatment system functioned and also responding to Minister Mahuta’s knowledgeable questions about the plant.
It was an honour for TTV to welcome the Hon Minister Mahuta and her delegation of representatives. We are grateful for NZ’s contribution and continuing support of our water infrastructure
Kia manuia
Careers Day Expo 2022
On Thursday 16 June, we had the pleasure of hosting senior Tereora College students in Year 11-13 at our TTV stall at the national auditorium. It was great to see some enthusiastic students who were asking some questions relating to how our treatment plants worked and a few who were interested in internships.
TTV staff members Patty Taea and Rennie Tamangaro were on hand along with Walter Tuarae-White and Bill Tangapiri to present and answer questions. We had a steady flow of students pop by and had a bit of fun setting up a plumbing challenge to be completed in 3 mins which was was hit with the groups (as seen in the images attached). All in all it was a great day to meet the students from various backgrounds and to chat about their plans for the future. There were some super intelligent students who pleasantly surprised us with their future study plans and possible careers.
Kia manuia to all our students
Team Work Pays
On Monday May 16, our TTV network crew undertook a major pipe laying job in Matavera. Joining field crews from Vodafone and TAU in a project driven by Te Au Ponga with T&M contractors. New service lines of power, telecoms and water were installed by all three companies respectively along with T&M doing the earthworks. The trench works ran from the main and cross road junction near the CICC Church to the back road Matavera.
This coordinated approach was win win situation for the service providers utilising a single trench and for the Matavera community in the area with less disruption.
Great to see team work at play.
Kia manuia
New water-main for Tupapa Residents
Our network team were busy in the Tupapa area recently, and completed remedial works from the back road to the main road near Hartal Shop.
After many years of constant leaks caused by an old corroded galvanised pipeline that was supplying houses along this road. It was great to see this old metal water-main shut down and replaced with a new PE (plastic) pipeline that will last up to 100 years. This will also improve water pressure for the many households on this road.
Unfortunately we still have some of these old pipelines in the ground at the end of their life cycle around the island. They will need to be replaced with longer lasting modern PE as we come across them to reduce leakage of our precious water
Kia manuia
Tereora Water Supply System Upgrade
In April this year, TTV undertook the initial steps of upgrading the Teroera Water Tanks and water supply system. This involved site visits and analysis of the existing assets, infrastructure and the water usage for the supply area. Removal of the old leaking concrete water tanks were effected and new slabs were laid to accommodate 2 new 25000L polyethylene tanks near the back road and a further 2 more 25000L header tanks at the top of the hill.
To provide the level of service required at 12000 litres per day for local residents, the 2 lower tanks are filled with clean water from the mains and new dual Grundfos pumps pumping at 3 litres per second deliver water uphill to the header tanks. The new system is fully automated with pumps controlled by a wireless remote system ensuring continuous supply to Tereora residences.
We are very pleased to announce, after decades of disrepair TTV along with local companies Land Holdings and Raro Plumbing have completed this project last week. With similar projects planned across the island TTV will continue to engage with local contractors as required to improve our water infrastructure and supply for our people. See our before and after images below
Kia manuia
The real science behind PACl sludge
Each upgraded water treatment intake around Rarotonga has now nearly completed the six-month polyaluminium chloride (PACl) trial.
Since the use of PACl started, locals have told us their water is much clearer, particularly during heavy rain compared with before, and people with water filters have needed to change their water filters much less often.
But what does the science say?
Well, following more than 10,000 tests taken, the data collected tells us that there has been a huge improvement in water quality.
Read more about PACl by clicking on the link below
https://www.totatouvai.co/post/the-real-science-behind-pacl-sludge
Te Mato Vai Aquatic Ecology Baseline Report
Lauren using a water quality probe to measure the waters' oxygen levels, pH and temperature
Earlier this year GHD was asked to conduct a field study on the 10 streams where water intakes have been upgraded.
A link to the report can be found here TMV Aquatic Ecology Report
To Tatou Vai joins World Clean Up Day
The teams from To Tatou Vai were out in full force on Friday 13th September 2019 to mark World Clean Up Day, which takes place in mid-September of each year. The inaugural World Clean Up Day began in 2018 as a social action to the global waste problem.
Chief Executive, Brent Manning said, “Our environment being clean is important to what we do at To Tatou Vai, our business is directly affected so it is perfectly fitting for us to get involved in this great global initiative”
Our teams took a good collection from the Takuvaine stream and nearby areas. There were items from general everyday rubbish such as plastic wrappers and bottles to old bicycles that were found.
“Today’s (rubbish) collection shows that we as a community need to encourage each other to stop throwing rubbish into the environment including our waterways.”
To Tatou Vai would like to acknowledge and thank everyone who got involved in the World Clean Up Day this year. It was a good effort for an important global initiative.
