UPDATED: Mount Maunganui residents without water are being advised that it may be around 5.30pm before it is switched back on.

A Tauranga City Council communications spokesperson says she has jsut spoken with contractors working on the water main break,

"Tthe material of the pipe isn't what they expected so the works will take up more time than previously indicated.

"They expect to be finished at around 5.30pm today, hopefully earlier) ."

Water has been off in the area since 5.30am.

There are 40 affected properties by the water outage.

These include:

1 to 19 Pacific Ave (odds)

14 to 16 Pacific Ave (evens)

70 to 78 Maunganui Road (evens)

"We have shared this information to the affected area on Antenno this morning."

EARLIER:

Tauranga City Council is hoping to have the water back in Mount Maunganui by 1pm.

Water has been off the the area since 5.30am, due to a water main break.

"Our water contractor (Downer) has been onsite at a water mains break at Pacific Ave since 5.30am," says a council communications spokesperson.

"We are hoping to have water restored about 1pm today.

There are 40 affected properties by the water outage.

These include:

1 to 19 Pacific Ave (odds)

14 to 16 Pacific Ave (evens)

70 to 78 Maunganui Road (evens)

"We have shared this information to the affected area on Antenno this morning."