Waihī runs out of water after pipe break leads to 'critical' situation

Hauraki District Council property officer Desire Bezuidnehout with bottled water. Photo / Esme O'Rafferty

KEY POINTS:

• Waihī low on water after main pipe break
• Schools and early childhood centres closed
• Residents asked to conserve water.
• Bottled water available from water stations around town
• A precautionary 24 hour boil water notice is in place

1.37pm:
They've almost run out of water at the Salvation Army water station but there are more bottles on the way. Tankers have yet to arrive at any of the stations.

Hauraki District Council's Desire Bezauidenhot said there are also portaloos on the way.

Resident Rebecca Harvey said she was frustrated with the lack of water, saying the council wanted the town to grow but weren't willing to spend on infrastructure to support the town.

She had three small children at home, but they were "oblivious" to the lack of water, she said. It was their day off kindy so she was glad she hadn't had to drive out to pick them up at lunchtime, she said.

Resident Jacqui, who didn't give her surname, said she and her husband were following the council advice on how to conserve water. "Let's face it, we've got through it before," she said.

EARLIER:
Schools and early childhood centres in Waihī have closed in response to the town running out of water after a pipe break this morning.

Hauraki District Council said it was working quickly to get water pods and bottles available at stations around Waihī after the town supply ran dry.

A student from Waihi College told the Bay of Plenty Times they were sent home due to the plumbing not working with lack of water, however, cafes in the town were still open.

Ollie Drake and Kara Burrell pick up water from the Salvation Army. Photo / Esme O'Rafferty

Ollie Drake and Kara Burrell said they were "pretty grossed out" when they found the toilets wouldn't flush at school so were pleased to be sent home. They were otherwise "chill" about the lack of water, picking up two bottles of water each from the Salvation Army.

They weren't worried it would continue for long, they said.

UPDATE: 12:50PM, Wednesday 12 February Waihi still low on water Where to find water • Free bottled drinking water is...

Posted by Hauraki District Council on Tuesday, 11 February 2020

Residents had this morning been asked to use water for drinking only after a main water pipe break took reservoir water to "extremely low" levels.

Water being delivered to the Salvation Army in Waihī today. Photo / Supplied

About 10:35am it said the pipe was now fixed and the reservoir is slowly filling up.

However that could take most of the day. The leak was found in part of the main intake pipe between the river and the treatment plant.

The council said once water started coming through the taps, it would be safe to use. However bottled drinking water would still be available for residents from the Gold Education Centre, Morgan Park and the Salvation Army from about 11.30am.

The limit is 4 litres per household but more could be made available if need be.

Hauraki District Council property officer Desire Bezuidnehout said she was in Waihī with her team in a Civil Defence capacity handing out water.

"It looks like my team will be able to help about 120 households. We are also bringing in more water tankers."

Water would need to be boiled before use.

Shelves in New World supermarket were empty of water with staff busy restocking.

The Hauraki District Council said in a written statement earlier this morning that it was working hard to fix the pipe but if the repair took longer than usual, there was a chance the town might run out of water.

Residents had been told to use water for drinking only. Photo / Esme O"Rafferty

The council requested that people use water for drinking only and to not use water for showering or clothes washing until further notice.

While the situation in nearby Waikino was not critical, the council also asked Waikino water users to keep consumption at a "bare minimum".

Hauraki councillor Anne Marie Spicer reminded residents that: "Not everyone is on social media, or might be listening to the radio, so please let your friends and neighbours know that some water will be available from 11:30am at collection points listed below. Council will deliver to those who are unable to get to town."

Visit the council's website, www.hauraki-dc.govt.nz, or Facebook page for more information and to keep up to date.