Featherston’s water network is supplied by a transmission pipe from Waiohine water treatment plant. Where the pipeline crosses the Tauherenikau river, the section of pipe that is exposed is approximately 23m long. Of the exposed section, around 15m of pipe is concrete encased and the remaining 8m is made up of steel pipe. A break in the coupler on the exposed section was identified on the 3rd December 2021. The leak only became visible when the river level was low. The area of the pipe around the leak suggests this may have been leaking undetected for some time and not visible due to high river levels.

A contingency plan for this scenario has been refined and a repair plan had to be created. The fix identified is in two phases: the first to stabilise the existing pipe to ensure sustainable water supply in shot term, with a second to replace the pipe with fully sustainable system that will last, many years.

Article by: Brent Merritt – Business Development Manager – Hynds Water

Learning and Adapting after Cyclone Gita

In 2018, Cyclone Gita caused havoc across the lower North Island. New Plymouth was hit particularly hard, causing widespread power outages, felled trees and landslips and major pipe damage to one of the potable water supplies.

During the cyclone one of those trees fell directly onto a major watermain pipe that feed to 10,000 homes which left them without water for three days, causing the residents to go directly on a boil water notice. Schools and businesses had to close which caused an economic impact of $4.5 million dollars.

NPDC saw the need to upgrade and invest in pipes and fittings to cater for all of their reticulation critical spares. Hynds Water worked directly with the project manager and provided solutions for all of the different pipe sizes, all types of repair solutions catering for all pressures across the three waters network. Some of our major brands could offer custom built pipe fitting solutions for pipes that are not even made to this day!

Now NPDC have a brand-new purpose-built facility that stores an extensive supply of fittings and other infrastructure spares including critical pipe! As well as a modern inventory system with scan codes, electronic access to instructions and diagrams and life reminders for perishable items held in the store.

Article by: Brent Merritt – Business Development Manager – Hynds Water

Project Timeline

Site establishment

28th March 2022

Boar bush reservoir back to service

31st March 2022

Temporary works in river

8th April 2022

Repair leaking coupling

11th April 2022

Rip Rap placement

18th April 2022

Reinstatement and Disestablishment

28th April 2022

A Tricky Situation – A Simple Solution – Synoflex

Our customer had to complete a cut in of a new valve assembly on an existing wastewater pressure main in a confided space environment, all inside a limited time window.

Three different pipe materials Concrete Lined Steel, Ductile Iron and Polyethylene had to be joined to, all with varying OD’s.

The contractor found that Synoflex flange adaptors offered the best solution for this job. The wide outside diameter tolerance with good angular deflection and a restrained grip ring meant that this job could be done right first time and within time.

Additionally utilising Synoflex eliminated an EF coupler and a PE reducer from the original design saving additional time and costs.

Article by: Richard Morron – Business Development Manager – Hynds Water • Sales Northern

Featured Product

East Coast Bays Booster Pump Station

Hynds Water have been working with the Watercare project delivery team and Fulton Hogan on the East Coast Bays Booster Pump Station Project. We were involved with this contract from the early stages allowing us to provide advice, solutions and alternative options. All of this has enabled this contract to go ahead based on tight timelines.

These photos show the latest stage of play with some of the product we supplied to this site.

Article by: Richard Morron – Business Development Manager – Hynds Water • Sales Northern

We’ll Make That Problem Go Away For You

Jobs don’t always go together as planned, sometimes it’s the design, sometimes the goal posts get shifted mid-game.  These photos are from a Watermain install in South Auckland that required a bit of the Hynds Water “we’ll make that problem go away for you” attitude. When this happens it’s always great to be able to call on the many years of experience we have in the Hynds Water team and in the wider Hynds business. Our Hawle Valves, Gillies DI and Georg Fischer product all went together to make a solution that worked for this project.

Article by: Richard Morron – Business Development Manager – Hynds Water • Sales Northern

State Highway 1 Watermain Improvements

Hynds Water were selected as supply partner for this drill shot under State Highway 1 north of Auckland, product included PE pipe, Ductile Iron Fittings Valves and Electrofusion couplers.

Teamwork between all stakeholders on this contract was critical as there was no room for error. Hynds Water worked with all the key parties and contributed by providing specialist advice and onsite technical support. We ensured the contractors had the right products to meet Watercare’s standards and the job specification.

This is the first of two shots which will provide water and wastewater trunk mains to a new sub division.

Article by: Richard Morron – Business Development Manager – Hynds Water • Sales Northern

Featured Products

Quality Valves for West Auckland

The Hynds Water Team worked closely with one of our valued customers providing water products, advice, service, and timely supply for several Watermain sub-division installations in West Auckland. Getting it right first time including supplying world leading quality brands like Hawle valves and Gillies Ductile Iron Fitting, which ensures the installer and asset owner a robust and enduring asset life. Our customer also benefits with peace of mind knowing that the job would only have to be done once.

Article by: Richard Morron – Business Development Manager – Hynds Water • Sales Northern

Featured Products

Flex 900 Ball Joints for Watermain

When working on pressure pipelines, compensating for ground movements, seismic activity and vibration can be a challenge for designers and asset owners. Particularly when using rigid pipe materials.

Transitioning from below to above ground and across bridge structures can also present challenges, requiring solutions to counterbalance movement in a range of planes.

These images show Flex 900 ball joints installed on a pipeline bridge as part of realignment project for a significant watermain in Auckland.

The Flex 900’s featured here are one of the FLEXTEND family of products providing designers and asset owners with proven movement solutions.

These include the EBBA Iron FLEX-TEND® and Force Balanced FLEX-TEND®

Manufactured in ductile iron and Fusion Bonded Epoxy coated the Internationally acclaimed Flex-tend range of products are suitable for use on a range of pipeline materials including DI, CLS, PE and PVC and others.

Article by: Richard Morron – Business Development Manager – Hynds Water • Sales Northern

Featured Products

Auckland Airport Upgrade

Hynds Water collaborated with Downer Civil Project Team to provide advice and solutions to the challenges they came across on a Watermain project at Auckland International Airport. The work had to be meticulously planned as it involved cutting over on the main watermain line feeding the airport. Hynds Water were able to supply multiple components resulting in a successful outcome, including Magflow Meters, pressure reducing valves, valve chambers, large diameter Hawle Valves, Gillies Ductile Fittings, Viking Johnson Flange Adaptors and George Fischer Electrofusion Fittings.

Article by: Richard Morron – Business Development Manager – Hynds Water • Sales Northern

Featured Products