PNG Capital Faces Water Rationing as Pipeline Leak Disrupts Supply

A major pipeline failure is set to leave large parts of Port Moresby without water overnight, with authorities warning of extended rationing across the city.

Water PNG announced that supply will be suspended from 10pm Friday through to Saturday afternoon, as repair teams work to fix a damaged section of the Rouna line.

 PNG Capital Faces Water Rationing as Pipeline Leak Disrupts Supply

Chief executive officer James Young said the affected pipeline plays a crucial role in delivering nearly half of the capital’s water.

He said the break poses a serious risk and must be addressed immediately to avoid further complications.

“This will mean about 17 hours of water rationing as half of the water supply is shut down for repairs.”

Mr Young said the repair process will begin only after the system is fully drained, which is expected to take several hours.

He said crews will then excavate the affected area and carry out welding and sealing works on the damaged pipe.

The CEO highlighted that the infrastructure dates back to 1962 and has deteriorated over time.

He cautioned that the repair timeframe could change depending on the severity of the damage uncovered.

“We will not know the full extent of the damage until we dig down to the pipe,” he said.

Residents have been urged to store sufficient water ahead of the shutdown to avoid shortages during the outage.

Water PNG says rationing measures will be carefully managed to ensure equal distribution across affected areas.