Residents in Gisborne are being forced to conserve water after a major landslip cut the city's
main water supply.
A pipe from the main supply reservoir at Mangapoike, south of Gisborne, burst on Monday night following a 50-metre-long hillside slip.
The Gisborne District Council has banned all non-essential water use, such as hosing and sprinkling, and warns the North Island town's supply could run dry within three days if water is not conserved.
Chief engineer Peter Higgs says the city is now relying on two smaller water supplies from Te Arai Bush catchment and the Waipaoa River, but that's not enough to last for long.
"We are getting water into the city. At this stage, we are losing more than we are gaining. Yesterday we had one of our highest consumption days, which was about 21,000 cubic metres. We can only supply up to about 14,000 cubic metres, so that's only two-thirds of what the consumption was yesterday."
Mr Higgs said engineers are working to locate and repair the split to the pipeline, but it could be at least two weeks before the normal supply is back on.
Gisborne mayor Meng Foon said until then, everyone has a duty to do their bit and try and make the limited water last.
"We're really asking our community to save water, not to water the lawn, refill the swimming pool, water their garden. If they can help us out we hope we will be able to manage. But it really depends on the goodwill of our community."
Mr Foon said council staff will be on the streets enforcing the ban if residents flout water restrictions.
Richard Burke, general manager of vegetable grower and processor LeaderBrand, said the industry will be able to find ways to conserve water.
