Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Dunedin water pipes cracking in dry summer

Updated at 10:48 pm on 11 January 2012

Mains water pipes in Dunedin have begun cracking because of the dry weather.

The city had its driest December on record and has received barely any rainfall this month.

Dunedin City Council network maintenance manager Mike Ind says the ground shrinks away from the underground pipes as it dries out, pulling and cracking the mains.

He said five mains water pipes failed last week leaving some households without water for up to six hours.

So far this week there had been no major incidents, but Mr Ind said the situation could get worse if the long dry spell continues.

Copyright © 2012, Radio New Zealand