Christchurch could be without running water for months amid contamination fears

PARTS of Christchurch could be without running water for months after it was revealed damage to the city's underground infrastructure is worse than first thought.

25-2-2011

PARTS of Christchurch could be without running water for months after it was revealed damage to the city's underground infrastructure is worse than first thought.

Residents have been warned not to drink the local water supply, and much of the city remains without access to water two days after the earthquake.

About one-third of homes are without electricity.

The lack of fresh water has prompted serious health concerns, amid reports raw sewage has seeped into cracked pipes and into the city's water supply.

Tens of thousands of cases of bottled water have been trucked in from Wellington. They are being distributed from local schools.

"The scale of the damage across the city is immense,'' Christchurch mayor Bob Parker said this morning.

Mr Parker urged the people of Canterbury to pull together in the city's time of crisis.

He said neighbours should consider digging shared latrines in their local areas.

"We are all in this together,'' Mr Parker said.

The damage to the city's infrastructure was far more widespread than that experienced in the earthquake that hit the city in September.

"The rebuilding period will be a lot lot longer than last year,'' Mr Parker said.

Roger Sutton, CEO of energy company Orion, said the underground electricity cables had suffered extensive damage, with transformers completely ripped from major cables.

About 70 per cent of the city's residents were expected to have power by this afternoon.

There is also a petrol shortage across Christchurch, with many service stations unable to use their pumps because of the lack of power.

This morning, several more search and rescue teams arrived from overseas, including crews from Japan, Taiwan, Britain and the US.

More than 200 Australians are also assisting with search and rescue.