1 Nov 2017

Pump station explosion 'would have been terrifying' for workers

11:41 am on 1 November 2017

New details have emerged of the explosion at an Invercargill water pumping station yesterday.

A worker inside the water pumping station at Myers Reserve, Waikiwi, Invercargill.

A worker inside the water pumping station at Waikiwi, Invercargill, this morning. The main evidence of the explosion was soot left on several panels of the switchboard cabinets. Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer

The explosion happened just after 12pm yesterday at the pump station in Myers Reserve, Waikiwi.

An electrical contractor was treated in hospital for burns to his hands after a switchboard exploded and has been discharged.

Half a dozen council staff and contractors were in the building this morning, working on a new switchboard, the out of action pumps and power supplies outside.

The main evidence of the explosion was soot left on several panels of the old grey switchboard cabinets.

Invercargill City Council water manager Alister Murray said the explosion was a "combination of loud noises and the belching of flames".

"It would have been terrifying for the men inside", he said.

Invercargill City Council water manager Alister Murray

Invercargill City Council water manager Alister Murray Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer

"We have fire extinguishers inside the building and they used those to quell the flames."

Fire crews were called but it's unclear how much they had to do inside, he said.

Mr Murray said it was ironic that bringing on a new switchboard had caused an explosion in the old one.

The termination block on the old switchboard was effectively melted.

He would not say whether the explosion was caused by human error or faulty equipment, but investigations by the council and Worksafe would give answers, he said.

The incident could have been worse, and it was a great relief that the workman was not as badly injured as first feared, he said.

Mr Murray also praised Invercargill and Bluff residents for cutting water usage by 15 to 20 percent, which was a huge help to reducing the load on the water system, he said.

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Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer

Explosions 'looked like fireworks'

Neighbours say the drama shook their nerves.

A woman whose house backs on to the reserve said a bit after midday there were two loud bangs.

"I jumped, mum jumped and the dog jumped."

She said after hearing the explosion she "knew it was bad".

Another neighbour, Maree Bell, said the explosions there yesterday looked like fireworks.

She said she heard loud noises in the direction of the pump station and then suddenly the power poles next to her house exploded too.

"I thought my neighbour was using heavy-duty tools in his shed and I was like 'what is he doing?'"

Ms Bell said she saw "big puff of black smoke and sparks everywhere" then ran inside and took cover, but heard nothing more.

Residents and businesses in Invercargill and Bluff are being asked to conserve water until the pump station is fixed.

RNZ Otago reporter Ian Telfer told Morning Report it was "quite a shock for neighbours whose houses are less than 25m away".

Mr Murray said the pump station should be fully operating again this afternoon.

Waikiwi pump station where the explosion happened.

The Waikiwi pump station Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer