Ōtepoti Dunedin’s water infrastructure has been under the pump lately due to severe weather events increasing rain and water flow.

Dunedin City Council leadership recently visited the Musselburgh Pump Station to thank staff for keeping everything running smoothly.

There are seven wastewater treatment plants across the city, which are operated and cared for by the DCC’s dedicated 3 Waters network and operations staff. The treatment plants receive flows from a combination of gravity pipe and pump systems throughout the network.

During weather events such as heavy rainfall, it is all hands on deck at the treatment plants and pump stations. Staff ensure pumps are running effectively, that tanks are full and operating as they should, and that grit and screening bins are emptied regularly.

This means staff need to be available around the clock to monitor equipment and take action if needed. Heavy rain over winter put the pump station crews to the test, but they didn’t let the heavy waterflow dampen their enthusiasm for the job.

The DCC is thankful to have such great staff helping to make our great small city even more resilient.