Mayor Andrew King was joined by Hamilton City CEO Richard Briggs in opening the new Rototuna Reservoir. Photo / Tom Rowland
Hamilton mayor Andrew King activated the pumps on Monday to open the new Rototuna Reservoir.
The reservoir will hold 24 million litres of water and ensure a more reliable water supply as the city continues to grow.
The mayor spoke on the benefits of the new reservoir.
"If something happens such as what nearly happened earlier this year when the pipes broke, we have enough supply here to keep this side of the river going," Mr King said.
Earlier this year, the eastern bulk water main suffered a major leak after a portion of the Waikato riverbank collapsed.
At the time, Hamilton residents were asked to conserve water and limit use.
"This is not just about improving water supply for Rototuna, this is about providing resilience to the wider water network right across the city," Hamilton City Council city infrastructure general manager Chris Allen said.
It's already an asset to the city's water network and is designed to support modelled growth in the area until at least 2061.
If a similar event occurs again, the reservoir will be able to provide water to the eastern side of the city while the problem is fixed.
Before the reservoir was built, 90 per cent of the water flowing through the taps of the city was stored on the west side of the river.
The reservoir will help with the growth of the city and deal with Hamilton needs for the next 40 years.
"It comes at a just-in-time timeframe, we haven't spent the money ahead of time," said King.
Allen said that, "As we complete the connection process some residents may experience inconsistent water pressure, air getting into the system, sputtering taps and cloudy-looking water from time to time over the next few weeks.
"This is normal and will not affect water quality."
The council will be closely monitoring the water network in the area in coming weeks.
However, if anyone has any concerns they can phone the 24-hour customer service line on 838 6699.
As the year draws to a close, Waikato Herald is taking stock of 2024.