Following the collapse of the stream bank and the breakage of the water mains pipe in the early hours of Friday, fifty metres of new pipework has been replaced beneath the Boar Bush Gully Road. That installation was completed by 3pm on Saturday, and the road is now accessible, though further surfacing and finishing of the road is still to take place.

Water was restored toFeatherston on Friday evening by supplying direct from the Waiohine Water Treatment Plant via a system that bypasses the broken main. This will continue while we take the necessary steps to recommission the main reservoir and the new pipework.

These steps include taking the opportunity to fully clean and flush the main reservoir before refilling it and reconnecting it to the town’s network via the repaired water main. In the meantime,the town’s water network has been stabilisedso that people’s taps will run steady and clear.

As a matter of public safety,water quality samples are being takenthroughout this process to ensure that everything is as it should be while we recommission the reservoir and new water main to restore normal network operations. We are workingin coordination with Regional Public Health to determine when the Boil Water Notice can be lifted; until that time it will remain in effect to protect the public.

We anticipate being in a position to lift the Boil Water Notice later this week.