A number of houses in Otumoetai will be without water this afternoon while emergency works on a failed watermain can be undertaken.

Tauranga City Council reports the emergency shutdown will affect properties with odd numbers from 329 – 373 Otumoetai Road.

Communications advisor Marcel Currin says water should be off for about one hour, starting around 3pm. The exact timing is unconfirmed at this stage.

A water main failed in this same area on Sunday and Marcel says the emergency shutdown will enable contractors to keep the affected properties supplied with water so that repair work can continue more thoroughly on the broken main.