Kawakawa residents without water face long wait for its return

After a wet and windy night the water mains broke in Kawakawa. Residents are being supplied water through tankers. Photo / Tania Whyte

Kawakawa’s water supply may be cut off for some residents until Wednesday morning, the Far North District Council has warned.

Heavy rain overnight caused extensive damage to a mains pipeline linking the town to its storage reservoir.

The break in the watermain, located on a difficult-to-access hill, cut water supplies to large parts of Kawakawa after it occurred around 9pm yesterday.

Council said extensive excavation was needed to confirm whether damage was confined to a pipe collar or included a pipe section.

“Unfortunately, the damage is extensive, and contractors estimate repairs will not be completed before midnight.”

However, council said water may not be restored to homes in the most elevated parts of Kawakawa until Wednesday morning.

Three tankers are currently stationed around the township to supply water to residents free of charge.

A fourth tanker was being used to supply water to the Bay of Islands hospital.

The tankers will remain in place at Bay of Islands College carpark, Albert St, and Waiomio Rd.

The fourth tanker will be stationed at Boswell St but may be called away during the night to restock the Bay of Islands Hospital reservoir.

A council spokesman said the hospital reservoir was usually filled using town water.

Once repairs are complete, water will be reinstated in stages.

“This will be necessary to bleed air from the network and to prevent other pipes from rupturing,” he said.

Some parts of Kawakawa are still receiving water supplies from a smaller pipeline unaffected by the mains break.

The council said the repair did not begin until dawn over safety concerns during windy and wet conditions.

Northland was braced for wet weather over the weekend and a severe weather watch was updated to a warning for this afternoon.

The warning for Northland will last from 3pm on Monday until 10am on Tuesday. A severe thunderstorm watch is also in place from 11pm on Monday until 8am on Tuesday.

Downpours may occur in localised places bringing with them a risk of flooding.

Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.