Lae taps still dry

MOST parts of Lae city continued to have intermittent water cuts through out yesterday despite anticipation that water would be fully restored on Monday evening.
At Top Town, the city’s central business district and its surrounding residential suburbs, water cuts had continued from the weekend, forcing residents to scurry elsewhere with their buckets and containers.
Some businesses, shops and the Lae court house remained closed.
The Lae police station also experienced water cuts since the weekend but remained opened.
Metropolitan commander Chief Supt Nema Mondiai said they were able to continue working because they were receiving water time after time. 
Suburbs around the Eriku locale also continued to face similar problem.
An officer with the PNG Waterboard said yesterday morning that the continuous water cut was a result of the power outage again on Monday night. He did not elaborate.
Residents at Taraka said the PNG Waterboard pumps burnt out and caused a fault with one of the stand by generators and that plumbers were working on installing a new pump.
It is understood there is low pressure until all water lines and reservoirs are filled to supply the city again.
In a statement released on Monday, PNG Power said the blackout on Sunday was caused by faults on the machines at the Ramu Hydro-power station at Yonki, Eastern Highlands province.
PNG Power acting chief executive officer Lawrence Solomon said the blackout on Monday night was caused by a fault with one of the units of the Ramu machines.
He said this caused low voltage and was insufficient for the PNG Waterboard pumps to work efficiently.