Taihape water shutdown to complete renewals project

The whole town shutdown is required to replace a pipe on Ruru Road, which is one of the two main feeds into Taihape. The water supply will be shut down on the evening of Monday 29 June from 9:00pm until approximately 1:00am on Tuesday 30 June.

Notes for residents:

• Please stock up on water ahead of the shutdown so that you have enough for your household.
• DO NOT run your hot water cylinders dry, as this can lead to damage to your hot water system.
• There may be trapped air in pipes that comes out of the taps and makes gurgling sounds. This is normal, so leave the tap on and the air should clear quickly.
• Some air may be trapped as little bubbles and could make the water appear slightly milky or white in colour, which will disappear if you let it settle for a short time. It is still safe to drink.
• The change in usual flow may unsettle some sediment in the pipes and the water may be dirty. If this happens, run an outside tap for about 10 mins to clear the line.

Council staff and contractors have replaced approximately 1.2km of concrete and steel pipes with polyethylene pipes – future proofing the network with lifespan of 80 to 100 years.

The renewals work has also included new water mains on Titi Street and Swan Street, renewing fire hydrants, mainline valves and smaller lateral pipes to properties located on these roads. As well, some tobies have been moved for ease of access in critical periods. These renewals are expected to significantly reduce the amount of water being lost from the network due to leaks.

This project is part of about $2m worth of water main renewals across the district that Rangitīkei District Council has completed over 2025/2026.