5,000 homes still without water

AOMORI (Kyodo) Tap water has been restored as of Tuesday to all but 5,000 out of 90,000 households in seven cities and towns in Aomori Prefecture that were affected by a broken duct, water supply companies said.

The cutoff that started Thursday initially affected some 230,000 people in 90,000 households. The 5,000 households, in Hachinohe and Hashikami, still only have tap water for certain hours of the day, the companies said.

Water authorities found cracks in welds in the duct that carries water from the Mabechigawa River in southeastern Aomori to a water treatment plant in the Hakusan district of Hachinohe.

Water leakage from the duct led to supply cuts for the 230,000 Aomori residents starting Thursday evening.

Water was temporarily restored to most affected areas Sunday, but supplies were cut to certain areas again because demand surged much more than expected.