Shelves are bare as residents in new Plymouth are urged to conserve water during the boil notice. Photo / Abe Leach
New Plymouth shops are running out of bottled water as crews work around the clock to repair a pipe damaged by ex-cyclone Gita.
The break has cut water supplies to homes and businesses in eastern New Plymouth and towns east of the city. People are being urged to conserve water.
The New Plymouth District Council is repairing the pipe and investigating alternative water supplies.
Mayor Neil Holdom says it's a big job because crews are also having to fix a support bridge around the pipe.
He says they'll be preparing the pipe and welding pieces together, so it should be fixed by tomorrow.
Patients and staff at Taranaki Base Hospital were given clean drinking water last night and a water tanker will be used to maintain a clean supply to the hospital.
District Health Board head Gillian Campbell said services at the hospital were running as normal.
Inpatient and outpatient services are not affected.
The 19-year-old disappeared without her wallet or mobile phone.