Residents north of Oamaru will soon have their water restored after a treatment plant fire earlier in the week.
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A fire at the Ferry Road water treatment plant on Monday night caused extensive damage to the treatment shed.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
It affected 700 customers in the Pukeuri, Papakaio, Hilderthorpe and Richmond areas north of Oamaru.
Waitaki District Council contractors and staff are setting up a temporary supply and anticipate pumping water to the reservoirs today.
Until then, Lower Waitaki water supply residents are asked to conserve water until the systems are refilled, using it only for essential purposes.
As soon as supply is restored to all consumers, an assessment of options for the permanent replacement of the damaged treatment plant would commence, a statement from Waitaki District Council said.
Customers are required to have three days of storage on their properties and as such should have sufficient water, particularly if strict water conservation methods are used, for the coming days until a temporary supply is in place, the statement said.