UPDATED 2PM: The 375mm water main supplying Mount and Papamoa reservoirs that broke twice today, has been successfully repaired.

The pipeline was brought back online at 12.50 pm and has remained stable, says council communications advisor Marcel Currin.

It will take another day for the water supply system to recover back to normal operational levels.

The key trunk main which supplies water to Mount Maunganui and Papamoa broke at 2.30am.

As at 5am the Mount reservoir was at 49 per cent full, Mangatawa 72 per cent full and Poplar Lane reservoir was at 31 per cent.

When the repair was completed the Mount was down to 27 per cent, Mangatawa 36 per cent. Poplar Lane was 44 per cent because some water was transferred from other reservoirs.

The work was planned as part of the Hairini Link / Maungatapu underpass project. No customers were affected, but the water shutdown meant that Mount/Papamoa reservoirs were not being supplied. The shutdown was required to connect existing pipe to new pipe as part of the enabling works for the project.

EARLIER

Repairs of the second water main break are progressing well and city council staff hope to have confirmation of its completion about midday.

The water main supplying Mount Maunganui and Papamoa reservoirs broke twice overnight.

Reservoir levels have dropped slightly since: The Mount is down to 43 per cent, Mangatawa 63 per cent and Poplar Lane is holding at 31 per cent. The water team is carefully managing supply across the available reservoirs.

The request for people in the Mount and Papamoa areas to conserve water remains in place.

Tauranga City Council staff advised the public of the problem at 5.30am.

A key water main that supplies the Mount and Papamoa area has failed twice since yesterday evening.

Repairs are ongoing. In the meantime, all water for Mount/Papamoa relies on water that remains in the reservoirs at Poplar Lane, Mount Maunganui and Mangatawa.

As at 5am this morning, the Mount reservoir was at 49 per cent capacity, Mangatawa was at 72 per cent and the Poplar Lane reservoir was at 31 per cent. These levels are expected to drop quickly as everyone starts their day.

The second pipe failure early this morning flooded the excavation area, hampering progress. Photo: Supplied.

EARLIER:

All businesses and residents in the Mount and Papamoa area are being asked to be as conservative as possible with their water use today.

A key water main that supplies the Mount and Papamoa area failed twice since yesterday evening.

'Repairs are ongoing. In the meantime, all water for Mount/Papamoa relies on water that remains in the reservoirs at Poplar Lane, Mount Maunganui and Mangatawa,” says a statement from Tauranga City Council.

'As at 5am this morning, the Mount reservoir was at 49 per cent capacity, Mangatawa was at 72 per cent and the Poplar Lane reservoir was at 31 per cent. These levels are expected to drop quickly as everyone starts their day.

'At this stage we don't know how long it will be before the reservoirs can start being refilled.

The pipe failure location is proving difficult to access safely.”

High water use industries are being contacted this morning.

The council are expected to issue an update on the situation at 9am.

More detail:

A planned water shutdown occurred on Monday, October 17, as part of the Hairini Link / Maungatapu underpass project.

No customers were affected, but the water shutdown meant that Mount/Papamoa reservoirs were not being supplied.

The shutdown was required to connect existing pipe to new pipe as part of the enabling works for the project.

• This 375mm pipe is a key trunk main in the water supply to the Mount / Papamoa area.
• When the pipe was put back on line at 18h30 a pipe failure was experienced on the existing pipe.
• The pipe failure was repaired and when reinstated and put online at 02h30 the pipe again failed.
• It is suspected that cause of the failure was as a result of pipe and ground movement.
• The location of the second failure is in a difficult location. As we work to ensure safe access and repair, we are currently unable to confirm the estimated time to get the supply reinstated.
• The shut-down and pipe failures have impacted on the level of the reservoirs in the Mount / Papamoa Coastal strip and at this time residents of the Mount / Papamoa area are requested to conserve water and minimise their water use.