North Stonington — The Southeastern CT Water Authority has lifted its order to conserve water in town after replacing a pump station destroyed in the "catastrophic failure" of a pressure tank in June.

The new pump station was completed on Dec. 31.

According to Joseph Cansler, general manager of Southeastern CT Water Authority, the pump station was destroyed after the simultaneous failure of a hydropneumatic pressure tank and a weld around the end cap.

The pressure caused the cap to "burst through" the pump station destroying a wall and collapsing the roof.

Water was trucked in and pressure restored the next day, and four days later a temporary system was constructed, however residents were advised to conserve water until a permanent system could be installed.

The tank failure and resulting emergency action cost roughly $500,000, of which 75 to 85 percent will be covered by insurance, said Cansler.

He noted the new system does not use hydropneumatic tanks; instead updated technology was installed that uses three variable speed pumps to move water into the system.