Nelson people urged to conserve water

Nelson residents are being urged to conserve water following the loss of the pipeline below the Tantragee water treatment plant during the storm buffeting the region today.

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Nelson City Council technical services manager Alec Louverdis said contractors and council staff were at the site this afternoon assessing the damage to the pipeline.

He said it was estimated the fault would take two to three days to repair.

Mr Louverdis said all water users needed to immediately reduce water consumption by 70 to 80 percent.

He said water savings could be made by not flushing toilets or taking showers unless essential, and avoiding using washing machines and dishwashers where possible.

The city's water is currently being sourced only from the Roding supply. Mr Louverdis says there is no need to boil water.

The York Valley landfill and the Pascoe Street transfer station are closed until further notice, and emergency services were kept busy with multiple reports of roofing iron lifting off homes in the howling gales, and of trees falling down around Nelson and Richmond, blocking some streets.

Street signs were also being buckled in wind gusts The road up the Maitai Valley was closed by falling trees at Smiths Ford.

Council technical services manager Alec Louverdis said crews had been working to clear the trees at Smiths Ford but had to leave the scene and close the road for their own safety. Power was out from Wakapuaka Cemetery to the Lud Valley today, and there were also power cuts in the central city this afternoon.

- © Fairfax NZ News