Tankers of water rushed to Albany residents

Residents from Albany line up at a water tank filling station on Bushlands Park Drive after a water pipe failure cut water to the area. Photo / Dean Purcell

Homes and businesses in a north Auckland suburb will be without water until tomorrow morning at the earliest, a water company says, as it struggles to fix the problem.

A "significant pipe failure" caused a loss of water or low water pressure to properties in the Albany area from around 3.30pm yesterday, Watercare said.

Staff worked through the night to repair breaks at three locations, but further work is needed and won't be carried out until 10pm tonight when there is less demand for water, acting chief operations officer Shayne Cunis said. Water was expected to be restored by tomorrow morning.

"The pipe break on Oteha Valley Rd is more challenging to repair and will require us to shut off the water supply to a broader area," he said in a statement.

"We do not want to do this during the day because it would cause significant disruption to homes, businesses, schools and other organisations in the area. Therefore, we will carry out this work tonight.

"In the meantime, our priority is supplying as much water as possible to the affected area. We have all available water tankers providing water in the area and we have reconfigured our network to channel more water into the area.

"We are also working closely with key organisations - such as the [North Shore] District Court and Oteha Valley School - to supply them with water by directing plumbing water tankers into their pipes."

He urged residents and business owners in the area to conserve water.

Residents 'struggling to cope'

Residents queuing for water in Bushlands Park Rd this morning said they were "struggling" to cope.

"We're not used to it," said businessman Ravind Prasad, who took photos with his cellphone while contractors filled his two big plastic containers.

"Last night we expected them to fix it but unfortunately they couldn't, so no showers," he said.

"We have five people in the house. It's lucky I have four toilets, so we go from one to the other."

Mr Prasad experienced water outages when growing up in Fiji, but said it was different there because everyone had tanks.

The water main caused water to shoot high into the air. Photo / Fiona Wills

A Southeast Asian migrant, Julia, said that when water pipes burst at home she could go to her mother's house in an unaffected area.

"Here you have nowhere to go for a shower," she said.

"It's terrible. I never felt the water was so precious until there is no water. We depend so much on it."

Another resident, Heather, came back to give coffees to the contractors, who were in the street from 4pm until 11.30pm last night. They returned at 6am today.

Westfield said its Albany mall won't be open until at least 1pm today.

"We're working very closely with Watercare," a spokeswoman said. "Our New World and Kmart are trading and there are a few stores that are open but obviously there are a few stores that can't open until we get water back."

The mall had portaloos on site so there was still toilet facilities, she said.Westfield hadn't yet decided if it would be seeking compensation for loss of business.

Lance Campbell, owner of The Merchant Bar and Kitchen in the mall, said staff were cleaning up hoping to open today, but could not open yet.

"We can't, with food hygiene and everything," he said.

"We are just waiting, that's all. There's not much you can do about it. It is what it is."

Pukatea Ave resident Jo Ramsay said her main concern was to clean the toilets before the children got home from school. But she also saw a good side.

"I have met neighbours I've never met before," she said.

"You see people waving to each other as they are walking by getting their water. It's been quite social."

Sang Hee Yoo, who works at a sushi bar at the Albany mall, said she could not work.

"Can't work, no pay," she said.

Robbie Williams from Hydrotec assists resident Sang Hee Yoo at the water tank filling station on Bushlands Park Drive, Albany. Photo / Dean Purcell

Diane Stevens, who brought scones out to the contractors, said she was grateful for the tankers.

"The boys are working long hours," she said. "These boys are good."

Massey University's Albany campus closed early last night after the water main burst but is open as normal today with signs saying, "Minimal water on campus."

Communications manager James Gardiner said a tanker supplied water last night to 290 students in the campus halls of residence.

- with additional reporting by NZME.