North Stonington — Less than 24 hours after the "catastrophic failure" of a pressure tank around 3 a.m. Tuesday, most of the almost 230 homes and businesses that lost water service had at least some water running through their faucets again.

And, despite needing to boil that water for drinking, cooking and teeth brushing, many of the affected residents were in good spirits Wednesday afternoon.

"I was impressed with how quickly they got the water back on," said Mike Davies, chef and owner of Press On Sandwich Crafters.

Located in the town's Holly Green plaza, Press On never opened Tuesday because its bathrooms weren't functional.

Some other plaza shops in a similar situation, such as Madeline's Crewcuts & Curls Hair Salon, still weren't open Wednesday afternoon.

But, thanks in part to having water storage and to having a couple four-gallon boiling apparatuses, Davies quickly was able to get Press On operating at 100 percent Wednesday morning.

"We're a new business and we're small, so a day's income is a lot," the Groton resident said of his year-old restaurant. "But we'll recover from it — the patrons here are loyal."

Across the street, Mirela Marku, owner of Buon Appetito, expressed similar thoughts. She said that everything was going well, although business was a bit slower than normal.

The two hotels in the area appeared to be less fortunate. Posted on the front door of Hilltop Inn & Suites was a sign that read "NO ROOMS."

And, First Selectman Nick Mullane said, Bellissimo Grande had to direct some of its patrons to the Preston Hilton Garden Inn, which Bellissimo owner Patrick Levantino also owns.

The boil water advisory, which likely will remain in effect for several days, primarily affects those who reside in or near the village, the Holly Green plaza and the Kingswood/Meadow Wood neighborhood.

Charlotte Melia, who's lived in the Kingswood/Meadow Wood neighborhood her whole life, said going almost a day without water "was pretty hard." Because one of her two children is a newborn, she had to head to a store at 6 a.m. Tuesday to buy water for baby formula, among other things.

But, with the help of her husband's parents, who live nearby, she said her family is making the best of it.

"Brushing your teeth with a jug of water is kind of difficult," Melia said with a smile. "But I know they're working around the clock to get it back. It could be worse."

After the failure of the 5,000-gallon hydropneumatic tank — the force of which blew the welded head of the tank off and caused the pump station's roof to collapse — crews first set up the temporary water system currently in operation.

Using Connecticut Water tanker trucks and water from Groton, the town continually is working to keep its water system full.

At the same time, workers are beginning to install a different temporary system at what remains of the existing well site. That system will use North Stonington water, thus relieving Connecticut Water's tanker trucks.

"They've made phenomenal progress in getting the North Stonington well site back on," Mullane said, although he couldn't estimate when the work would be finished.

Mullane stressed how important it is for affected buildings to continue conserving water: refraining from lawn watering, car washing and any other nonessential water usage.

Those in the affected area went through 65,000 gallons of water the day before the tank failed. Mullane said that's not sustainable when trucking water back and forth and may not work with the new temporary system, either.

He said the permanent water system, with at least one new tank installed, panels and gauges checked and/or replaced and a new pump house, is weeks away.

Those still in need of water can pick up gallon jugs and cases of it at the volunteer fire company station at 267 Norwich-Westerly Road. Residents also can fill up their own containers by using an on-site tanker truck full of water from the station's well.

Along the way, Cumberland Farms, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and several others have donated water, time and more to the town, which Mullane said goes to show that southeastern Connecticut has a "really good" community.

"Everybody in the region is reaching out, offering different things to us," he said. "There are a lot of people here that like to work together."

l.boyle@theday.com

Twitter: @LindsayABoyle