Cambridge residents urged to conserve water due to power outage

19 April 2013

Waipa District Council staff are keeping a close eye on water reservoir levels following a power outage in Cambridge that has affected around 12,000 homes and businesses.

The power outage was caused by an explosion at the Cambridge substation around midnight and residents have been told to prepare for power not being restored until at least midday today.

Water Services Manager Lorraine Kendrick said water to Cambridge, Pukerimu and Ohaupo was being supplied from existing storage, no new water could be treated until power was restored.

The Hicks Road supply was feeding a limited amount of water to supplement the Cambridge supply.

Mrs Kendrick said the council had contingency plans in place however Cambridge residents should expect to experience low water pressure during the outage.

The council was fielding a number of calls however at this stage the Water Services team were attending to urgent matters only.

A tanker of drinking water had been dispatched to Ohaupo School which had no water. Residents in the Ohaupo area could access to fill their own containers if they were affected.

We are asking residents to conserve water where possible and to refrain from flushing their toilets where possible, said Mrs Kendrick.

We will also need people to keep conservation measures in place for a few hours once power is restored to allow supplies to replenish, she said.

More information will be available as it comes to hand.

ENDS

For further information contact

Lisa Nairne

Senior Communications Advisor

Ph: 07 872 0062 or 027 532 1760

Email: lisa.nairne@waipadc.govt.nz