Alert warns Ohakune residents of water outage after quake damage
The town of Ohakune is facing a water shortage after an earthquake damaged local pipes, leading to school closures and water conservation orders. Residents are being provided with emergency water supplies while repairs are underway.
Why it matters
Illustrates the impact of natural disasters on local infrastructure and public services.
Ohakune schools will be closed on Monday as the town grapples with a water shutdown caused by leaking pipes.
The Ruapehu District Council and water contractor Veolia are urging residents to conserve water, warning the town's reservoir is down to 12 percent.
A council spokesperson said the leak, caused by last month's earthquake, was discovered on Thursday and repaired the following day, but the need to remove air from the water line had delayed the fix.
The council had brought in port-a-loos and was providing tankers of drinking water, but stressed that they were for homes and essential services, and businesses may need to close.
"The reservoir has been drained, so it takes time for that reservoir to refill and then for the treatment to come through," Horizons Regional Council chair Nikki Riley said.
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