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.
![Team is hard at work fixing the water pipe in New Plymouth. Photo / NPDC](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/R6AEAZG6XTOMVJLKA6NJXPG5FA.jpg?auth=60d8fbea4c6bac6c27f768d6c643ee49594e4d9f79dfde777556680dfb00bb1f&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)
Mayor Neil Holdom says it's a big job because crews are also having to fix a support bridge around the pipe.