No lifting of New Plymouth boil-water notice after water restored following ex-Cyclone Gita

New Plymouth residents are still required to boil their water in the wake of ex-cyclone Gita. Photo / 123RF

The state of emergency has lifted in New Plymouth but the district council has told residents they will need to keep boiling their water for the next week.

By 2am today water had been restored to all properties that were affected by the water pipe damage caused by former Cyclone Gita.

A New Plymouth District Council spokesperson said the last of the required stand piping was completed in Urenui.

This process involved placing a vertical pipe down each fire hydrant to allow water and air to escape.

Hundreds of volunteers helped firefighters across the district as 100 fire hydrants were attended to.

The spokesperson said the council would be testing water quality extensively before lifting the boil notice and that residents might notice lower water pressure.

New Plymouth schools would be delivered 85,000 bottles of water this week.

Taranaki Civil Defence, with support from volunteers and other agencies, was co-ordinating the delivery.

Mayor Neil Holdom said it was a big help to families in the region.

"Areas affected by the damage caused to our supply network during ex-Cyclone Gita are still under a boil-water notice – and this will apply until our testing programme is complete.

"There's almost 100 primary and secondary schools and early childcare facilities receiving the water delivery, so the boil-water notice won't be a barrier to them opening again tomorrow, and our kids going back to school."

Michael Carr, Principal of Mangorei School and President of the New Plymouth Principals Association, said the delivery would be welcomed by the schools.

"Getting back into a normal routine is important for our students and our communities.

"I'd like to thank our wider school communities for their understanding and patience in recent days.

"Now water supplies have been restored for toilet facilities, the delivery of drinking water can mean we can get on with teaching our kids this week.

"Parents should check their school's social media or web pages to confirm they are up and running from Monday."

Water provided in tankers in critical areas does not need to be boiled.
The following tankers were operating from 6am to 9pm:

• Hickford Park Car Park (end of Smeaton Rd), Bell Block.

• Bell Block Court, Bell Block (outside The Warehouse).

• Outside Waitara Memorial Hall, Memorial Place, Waitara.

• Clifton Park car park, opposite Waitara High School, Princess St, Waitara.

• Outside Tennis/Bowling Club, Manutahi Rd, Lepperton.

• Rimu Street Industrial Park, Rimu St, Merrilands, New Plymouth.

• Outside Mangorei School, Mangorei Rd, New Plymouth.

• 31 Onaero Beach Rd.

• Urenui Corner Whakapaki Street & Ngakoti Streets opposite the primary school.