Robert Hazlett
Hawdun Ida Valley Irrigation Company race manager Robert Hazlett said work on repairs to the 150-year-old race were finished on Monday.
Rain meant it had been too dangerous on Sunday for the bulldozer and digger to continue work rebuilding the bank but it was completed the next day.
Heavy rain meant extra water in the race and that had caused the bank to break on Saturday, Mr Hazlett said.
The 100km-long water race, the longest in New Zealand, takes water from the head of the Manuherekia River
A Central Otago District Council spokeswoman said in a statement reservoir levels were steadily increasing yesterday.
If everyone continued conserving water for the next 24 hours that would allow storage levels to recover.
Restrictions would be lifted as soon as possible, the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Ranfurly community remained on a conserve water notice.
The town's treatment plant was struggling to produce clean water and keep the reservoir topped up.
Clean water was produced on Wednesday night but fluctuating water quality was limiting the amount produced, the statement said.
Ranfurly's water supply came from two locations on the East Eweburn River, which is subject to turbidity, or cloudiness, after rain.
When that happens water is supplied from the reservoir as the water plant, which consists of sand filtration and chlorination, is shut down.
The council is considering options for a more resilient water supply for the town.
