Water PNG has announced that it is targeting the evening of Friday, 31 July, to begin emergency repair works on the ageing Rouna 1/3 raw water pipeline, with customers across Port Moresby expected to experience significantly reduced water supply for up to three days.
In a statement released yesterday, the state-owned utility said the repair works are expected to take between 48 and 64 hours. During that period, water production and supply into the capital will be reduced to about 40 per cent of normal capacity, affecting customers across the city.
Water PNG said it will release a detailed water rationing and supply plan before the works begin to help households, businesses, hospitals, schools and other essential services prepare for the temporary disruption.
The utility apologised for the inconvenience, saying the repairs are necessary to reduce the risk of a more serious pipeline failure and to safeguard Port Moresby’s critical water supply system.
According to Water PNG, extensive engineering preparations have already been completed ahead of the repairs. These include replacing key air and scour valves, carrying out additional hydraulic modelling, securing replacement pipe materials and specialist repair couplings, and installing automated flow monitoring systems to improve the safety and reliability of the pipeline during and after the works.
The utility said recent condition assessments confirmed that the ageing Rouna 1/3 pipeline remains vulnerable and that further challenges are expected due to the condition of the infrastructure. It said the pipeline continues to play a critical role in supplying water to Port Moresby while risks associated with its age are being carefully managed.
At the same time, Water PNG said it will continue work towards the full replacement of the Rouna 1/3 pipeline as part of its long-term strategy to improve the reliability of the capital’s water supply, particularly as severe drought conditions associated with El Niño are expected.
The company said it will provide further updates as the repair date approaches, including confirmation of the repair window, affected supply zones, water rationing arrangements and advice to customers on how to prepare.