With less than a month to the 40th annual Auckland Round the Bays, Watercare’s team is working behind the scenes to make sure things run smoothly.
As an event sponsor, Watercare play a crucial role in ensuring the day goes well for around 70,000 competitors.
For 17 years Watercare staff have manned eight water stops along the 8.4km route. It’s a busy day for the volunteers, who typically pour up to 12,000 litres of water.
Operations Manager – Networks Anin Nama, whose team of engineers lead the water stops, says providing the water requires considerable pre-event coordination and a lot of goodwill on the day.
“Our volunteers are at their water stops by 7am, connecting hoses to fire hydrants, filling the cups and stacking them in layers of up to seven high,” says Anin.
“Once the crowd descends, it’s all hands on deck. From the time of the first runner to the last walker, the volunteers work extremely hard handing out the cups and maintaining the supply.”
Watercare’s participation in Round the Bays is not limited to the water stops. Well over 100 staff, friends and family are registered to walk or run the course.
The 2012 Auckland Round the Bays is Sunday March 18.