Water Main damage causes outage

Water supply was cut to 250 homes in the rural Lake Hayes area, near Arrowtown today, due to a damaged falling water main,’ Queenstown Lakes District Council utilities committee chairman John Mann said.


“At 3am this morning contractors were alerted to a low level supply in the Lake Hayes supply reservoir. Contractors were able to replenish that supply for the Lake Hayes Estate area but the damaged falling main has prevented the supply getting to approximately 250 rural Lake Hayes properties,” Councillor Mann said.


An emergency supply of water had been made available to residents with no water, with three water tankers stationed in the area. Lake Hayes Estate residents have been asked to urgently conserve water until repairs can be carried out.


The damaged falling main was situated above the Lake Hayes Road.


“It appears that the pipe has come away from a rock face, possibly the result of some of the earthquakes we have experienced recently. There is a major repair job underway,” Councillor Mann said.


Affected areas include Speargrass Flat Road, Rutherford Road and Lake Hayes Road.


Within hours of the failure a compressor, crane and digger were onsite this morning effecting repairs.


“All credit to the Fulton Hogan team, contracted to maintain the Lake Hayes supply, they are doing everything they can to get the supply reinstated,” Councillor Mann said.


It was hoped repairs could be completed by early evening.