Burst water pipe puts residents on edge

BURST: Ohinmutu residents were startled to see water bursting several metres into the air this morning. PHOTO/SUPPLIED 150117xx1.JPG

A burst water pipe that broke through a tarseal road and shot water several metres into the air in Ohinemutu this morning initially had residents worried it was more geothermal eruptions.

The pipe burst about 7.30am today near the corner of Ariariterangi and Haukotuku Sts.

Initially residents were worried it could have been more geothermal activity given the recent eruptions in the area.

There had been at least two eruptions at the end of last year on the edge of Lake Rotorua, that borders Ohinemutu.

One resident, who didn't want to be named, said she was too scared to go too close to the burst water this morning given what had been going on in the village recently.

FIX: Contractors work to fix the hole caused by a broken water pipe. PHOTO/KELLY MAKIHA

However, it was soon discovered the activity was caused from a broken water pipe beneath the road.

The pressure under the road caused the tarseal to break and the water to shoot up into the air. It left a hole in the road about 1sq m.The hole was fixed by early afternoon.

A contractor at the scene told the Rotorua Daily Post it was hard to tell if the 100mm pipe had been faulty or if it had burst as a result of recent ground movements caused by the geothermal activity. He said contractors had been called to fix another leak in the area just a few days earlier.

Resident Lani Kereopa said she didn't see the water bursting through the road but noticed the contractors this morning.

She said thankfully there hadn't been much geothermal activity in recent weeks and locals were hopeful things had settled down.

Miss Kereopa said residents were wanting the ruapeka (hot lagoon in front of Tunohopu Marae) to be dredged as it was now cut off from the lake and was heating up.

"We think it's highly likely that it's linked to the eruptions, but it's also a health and safety issue for tourists and villagers alike if we allow it to become a hot pool.

"Other than the water pipe this morning, things have been quiet so we're definitely hoping that we're not dealing with any other increased activity going on underground that we're not aware of. I haven't heard of anything else causing concern at this stage."

Miss Kereopa was initially the one to raise the alarm on November 28 at 4am when she heard the hydrothermal eruption in the lake near the village. She said at the time it shot water about 30m into the air.

Two days later, another eruption was seen by locals in the lake, which locals described as a rumbling that shook the ground.

Ohinemutu resident and long-term Rotorua Lakes Councillor Trevor Maxwell said the burst pipe would have been scary given the geysers that had been popping up in the lake.

However, he said despite the geothermal activity, most residents were relatively relaxed about what had been happening.

"They know it has happened before in 2001 and they see it as a natural thing. Plus Lani Kereopa is really on to it and is keeping everyone informed and alert."