Masterton Council Targets Illegal Pipework On Private Properties To Fix Wastewater OverflowsAddressing illegal stormwater connections on private properties will be a focus in Masterton District Council’s multi-pronged approach to wastewater overflow issues in town, the council’s chief executive says. This was despite the installation of wastewater holding tanks with backflow prevention following major overflow issues in 2022. Fell said this was not about “shifting responsibility” but was about protecting ratepayer investment in the public wastewater network. The GHD report said properties that had cross-connections from stormwater into the wastewater network were not necessarily the properties experiencing the negative impacts of wastewater overflows. The council's current approach to wastewater network renewals was focused on a long-term programme of investment based on asset management planning.