Block of central Wellington without water after main bursts

Water tankers are on site in central Wellington after a burst main left a swathe of the city waterless.

A section of Waring Taylor St between Lambton Quay and Featherston St has been without water since this morning when the drinking main burst - and Wellington Water says some water won't be restored until 6pm.

Water was switched off along Johnston St, Maginnity St, Waring Taylor St and a small stretch of Lambton Quay as crews worked to repair the damage.

A map of where water will be off. Photo / Wellington Water

Water has since been restored to Featherston Street - from Johnston to Waring Taylor St, but Waring Taylor St itself was still without by the afternoon and a rising tide meant repair had to be halted.

UPDATE: 2.45pm, 26/7/22 Unfortunately rising tides underground mean that the pipe repair has been put on hold, until the tide recedes sufficiently to allow works to continue. We now estimate water will be restored at around 6pm.

— Wellington Water (@WgtnWaterNZ) July 26, 2022

It's the latest in a string of woes for Wellington Water, which is now notorious for burst pipes and leaks – as well as the fluoride scandal, discovered last month.

A damning report revealed water in the region hasn't been fluoridated properly for six years.

A review was launched after the revelation that Wellington Water turned off fluoride at two plants last year without telling the board, councils or residents.

It found fluoride was administered effectively less than 20 per cent of the time at those plants, which supply Upper Hutt, Porirua and Wellington City residents.

Wellington Water is working towards reinstating fluoridation by September this year.

The board will implement all of the review's recommendations, including that Wellington Water should have a relentless focus on fluoridation.