Ohakune residents told to conserve water after major pipe breaks

Ohakune residents are being asked to conserve water after a <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/26/nowhere-is-immune-experts-urge-quake-readiness-after-two-in-a-week/">recent earthquake</a> damaged a major underground water pipeline, significantly reducing the town's water supply. Ruapehu District Council said on Sunday morning it did not expect water supplies to be restored until about 5pm on Monday. "Water may start to flow before then but it will not be potable As a precaution boil any tap water until further notice," it said in a Facebook post. The disruption followed damage caused by last month's <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/25/aftershocks-to-continue-for-months-after-taumarunui-quake-seismologist/">magnitude 5.9 earthquake near Taumarunui</a>, which caused a major break in the underground raw water pipeline supplying Ohakune's Water Treatment Plant. Ruapehu District Council said because the damaged pipe was underground, the break took time to become apparent and was difficult to repair. "Repairs are now complete. However, with large numbers of people in town, the water reservoir has dropped to just 12%. "The treatment plant is struggling to rebuild reservoir levels while meeting current demand, creating a risk that Ohakune could run out of water." Residents and visitors had been asked to avoid all non-essential water use and to not flush household toilets as reservoir levels recovered. Emergency drinking water would be available from a tanker outside the council's office on Ayr St, with additional water collection points established around the township. The council asked people to keep empty five-litre bottles and refill them from the tanker where possible. Emergency port-a-loos had also been installed at several locations across Ohakune. "Please continue to conserve water and only take what you reasonably require so supplies remain available to those who need them," the council said.