Ashburton District Council has spent around $2 million in the past 12 months renewing drinking water pipes around the district and one of the latest renewal projects is on the side of a very busy urban road.

Hundreds of orange road cones have been separating traffic from diggers and work crews on Moore Street/State Highway 77 as the southern side of the road was dug up and new water mains installed.

Another team is replacing water mains on Allens Road.

Infrastructure Services Group Manager Neil McCann said traffic management is always very important when working on well-travelled roads, but especially so when work involves open trenches in the road corridor.

“We thank those motorists who are reducing their speed in the work zones to keep workers safe and we hope to be finished soon.

"Another tricky aspect of works in town is locating and avoiding other services like fibreoptic cables. The contractor has to be very careful.”

Water main renewal is programmed every year and pipes for replacement are chosen based on their age and maintenance history.

The oldest water pipes in the district are around 80 years old.

Mr McCann said the timing of replacement was not an exact science but regular renewals reduced the ongoing maintenance burden and the risk of a burst pipe.

“We take the same approach with wastewater pipeline renewals and we will have spent about $2.8 million on renewals and relining in the wastewater network at the end of this financial year.”

The Moore Street and Allens Road pipe renewals involve installing new polyethylene and PVC pipe, new valves and household tobies (connections).

Mr McCann thanked residents for their patience during the work, which sometimes affected access to homes.

“This is important work and as the pipes near the end of their life we need to replace them, ensuring a reliable drinking water service for years to come.”

Watermain renewal work that has already been completed this year includes Hanrahan Street, McDonald Street (Methven), Pitt and Dunford Street (Rakaia), Archibald Street (between Johnstone and Grahams Road), Chalmers Avenue (between Dobson and Wellington Streets), McKerrow Street (Forest Drive to Main Street, in Methven), Delamaine Street (between Hinds Arundel to Rodgers Road), Reed Street (Hinds).