Power transformer complicates water leak repairs

Water supplies will be turned off overnight to about 20 Ōpononi homes on Waianga Place after a watermain sprang a leak next to an electricity transformer this afternoon.

Repairs cannot be safely undertaken until specialist digging equipment arrives at the site in the morning. This follows advice from electricity provider, Top Energy, which said repairs should not be attempted until a hydro excavation truck arrives on site at 8am.

The leak will be isolated overnight by turning water off to Waianga Place from 5pm to prevent the town’s reservoir draining and cutting water supplies to all Ōpononi households and businesses.

Council contractor, Far North Waters, says a water tanker will provide free treated water from 5pm until 9pm to residents impacted by the outage. The tanker will be parked in a lay-by on State Highway 12 at the foot of Waianga Place. Residents should bring their own clean water containers to fill.

Far North Waters aims to complete repairs by midday Tuesday. Supplies to Waianga Place will remain off until the repair is complete.