Ohakune water supply recovering as reservoir recharges
Ruapehu District Council says good progress is being made on recharging the Ohakune water reservoir, following an outage that has left the township without water.
As the network recharges, water will begin returning to taps across Ohakune.
Council is asking residents to conserve water as much as possible while the reservoir recovers.
Ruapehu Civil Defence Controller Vini Dutra said the community's patience and cooperation had been appreciated throughout the outage.
"We know two days without water has been difficult for the Ohakune community, and we thank people for their patience," Mr Dutra said.
"Please continue to use water sparingly over the coming days so the reservoir can fully recover and pressure can be restored to normal levels."
A precautionary boil water notice remains in place until testing confirms the water is safe to drink.
To make water safe, bring it to a rolling boil for at least two minutes, then allow it to cool before drinking or using it for food preparation.
Anyone who has had to deal with septic waste during the outage should also wash their hands thoroughly.
Council has published guidance for households on preparing for the water's return which is available on its website and Facebook page.
To help clear air from the network, residents should turn on an outside tap and let it run until the water flows clear, keeping inside taps turned off in the meantime.
Taps may splutter when first turned on – this is just trapped air being released and is nothing to worry about.
Water may also look milky; this is caused by air bubbles and is not a health concern.
Low pressure may continue to be noticed until the reservoir has refilled several times.
Anyone experiencing plumbing issues on their own property, such as blocked pipes or leaks, should contact a plumber directly.
If your water does not return, or you notice a problem with the public water network, contact Ruapehu District Council on 07 895 8188.
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MORE INFO ON BOILING WATER AND WATER SAFETY
Staying well during a boil water notice | The Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai
