Taranaki tap water back on in three areas; boil water notice still applies

Waves lash the New Plymouth walkway as cyclone Gita lashed the area on Tuesday. It is now safe to drink tap water in three areas of Taranaki, but a boil-water notice still applies. Photo / File

It is expected to be a week before a boil water notice in Taranaki is lifted.

The main New Plymouth water pipe was damaged in ex-Cyclone Gita.

Tap water is now back on in three areas - Highlands Park, Waitara and Lepperton - thanks to technicians and volunteers, who have been putting pipes in fire hydrants to release air and water as the system is refilled.

The advice is people in those areas should run their outside tap for 10 minutes first until the water is clear.

The New Plymouth District Council says once water is restored there will be several days of flushing the pipes clean, so the water is safe to drink again.