Tens of thousands of Sydney residents hit by sudden water shortage
Updated . First published at
Tens of thousands of residents of a region in Sydney are being urged to conserve water after a major water main break caused chaos overnight.
Sydney Water confirmed a major incident occurred at its West Ryde Pumping Station early last night.
The break flooded critical pumping equipment and has caused water shortages across Sydney's North Shore.
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Sydney Water confirmed a major incident occurred at its West Ryde Pumping Station early last night. Nine
The issue has reduced water transfers to parts of the North Shore, making it harder to supply all local reservoirs and meet drinking water demand.
Some areas may also experience lower water pressure while supply is impacted.
Upper and Lower North Shore residents are being urged to take short showers and use the half-flush option on toilets while Sydney Water carries out repairs.
They should also avoid hosing driveways, limit garden watering, and avoid washing cars.
Tens of thousands of Sydney residents have been hit by a sudden water shortage. Getty
Crews are working around the clock to fix the issue as quickly as possible.
"While water supply is continuing, this incident has made it harder for us to move water where it's needed across the North Shore," Sydney Water managing director Darren Cleary said.
"We're asking customers to help by reducing non-essential water use so we can maintain supply to the community while we carry out repairs."
He assured customers that water in the region is still safe to drink and meets Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
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"Every small action helps reduce demand and makes a real difference while we complete this work."
Sydney Water will provide updates on its website as repairs progress.
As of the last census in 2021, the North Shore population was 78,893.
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