InterGroup delivered the Very Highly Critical Asset (VHCA) Inspection Programme for Wellington Water between 2022 and 2024, supporting the condition assessment of some of the region’s most critical and ageing water infrastructure.
About the Programme
The VHCA programme was designed to give Wellington Water clear visibility of asset condition across critical networks, enabling informed decisions about maintenance priorities and future investment.
The two-year programme encompassed the potable water, wastewater and stormwater networks across the Wellington region, with our teams completing more than 100 kilometres of CCTV inspections – covering pipe diameters ranging from 100mm through to 3200mm.
These investigations provided Wellington Water with high-quality condition data that played a key role in identifying bursts, blockages, structural defects and deterioration in assets more than 50 years old – directly supporting targeted renewal planning, risk mitigation and continuity of essential water services.
CCTV inspection setup of Wellington Water’s critical assets, enabling safe and accurate assessment of essential infrastructure.
Protecting Essential Infrastructure
Safety underpins every aspect of our delivery. Our crews routinely operate in confined spaces, steep terrain and high-traffic corridors and are well-versed in implementing robust permit systems, atmospheric monitoring and traffic management controls.
Our safety-first approach is embedded in all aspects of our operations on this contract where risks such as hazardous substances, confined spaces, traffic and high-pressure systems require strict controls. We conduct thorough risk assessments, implement Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS), and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) tailored to high-risk tasks. Our workforce undergoes annual Verification of Competency assessments, regular safety briefings, and specialist training, including confined space and emergency response protocols
These systems ensure inspections are completed safely while maintaining continuity of service across Auckland’s busy transport and drainage networks.
Over two years, our team worked across the Wellington region, completing more than 100km of CCTV inspections on critical water infrastructure.
Working in Challenging Environments
Many assets within the programme required enabling works before inspection could begin. This included installing access shafts, replacing manhole covers and coordinating traffic management across busy urban corridors.
Our crews regularly operated in confined spaces and live networks, supported by robust safety systems and structured access planning. Site investigations were completed ahead of inspection to identify access requirements and constraints, ensuring works could proceed safely and efficiently once mobilised.
On-site works supporting the ongoing reliability of Wellington’s water network
Data-Led Delivery at scale
All inspection footage was processed in-house, supported by a dedicated quality assurance resource to ensure outputs were complete, accurate and delivered on schedule.
Beyond individual assets, InterGroup also supported forward programme development by contributing to network health insights, helping to inform ongoing inspection cycles and renewal prioritisation.
This programme was the first delivered under the new Fourth Edition of the New Zealand Gravity Pipe Inspection Manual. ProjectMax were co-located alongside our team to help navigate the new requirements and refine processes in real time – ensuring data quality remained consistent as standards evolved
Programme Results
Delivered over two years, the VHCA programme provided Wellington Water with valuable insight into the condition of essential water infrastructure across the region.
Through a combination of specialist inspection capability, scalable delivery and strong data quality, InterGroup supported proactive asset management and improved resilience across wastewater and stormwater network.