Murupara residents are no longer at risk of sewage seeping into the ground near their homes after repairs were undertaken to fix sewer pipes.

Whakatane District Council's utilities manager Santha Agas says they have carried out rehabilitation works to existing earthenware in Murupara.

A CIPP liner being installed in a sewer pipe.

'The repairs were necessary due to broken and cracked sewer pipes, which were identified during CCTV inspection of the pipes.

'The repairs were made using a cured in place pipe (CIPP) system. This doesn't require excavation, has minimal site disturbance and is faster than traditional methods of pipe replacement.”

The CIPP process involves installing a flexible resin-impregnated felt liner in an existing pipe and then curing it with steam or hot water.

'The resin liner is installed from existing manholes, with works being completed this month.”