The Picton waterfront. Photo: LDR / Stuff / Scott Hammond
Residents and businesses are being asked to conserve water in Picton after a pipeline to its water treatment plant was damaged.
Marlborough District Council said the pipe from Barnes Dam to Essons Valley treatment plant - one of the two supplies providing water to the town - was damaged yesterday by a possible slip.
As a result, the Essons Valley treatment plant has not been operating since late yesterday afternoon.
Operations and maintenance engineer Stephen Rooney said that meant the capacity to supply water to Picton was significantly reduced.
The pipeline has been repaired, but re-starting the treatment plant is expected to take the rest of the day and the water storage is already depleted.
Picton's water supply comes from two sources - Speeds Road water treatment plant and Essons Valley water treatment plant.
The Essons Valley supply is generally supplementary during peak periods.