WATER has returned to Chinchilla thanks to some hard work by council utilities staff.

The problem was fixed a little after 3pm.

Be sure to keep hydrated as the Melon Festival continues into the afternoon.

EARLIER: Chinchilla has lost water on the worst possible day of the year.

As the main day of Melon Festival got underway residents discovered the terrible stroke of luck with pipes going dry around town.

Western Downs councillor Peter Saxelby said there is a burst water main at the corner of Middle and Colamba Sts.

"There's a bad water leak straight below the water tower,” Cr Saxelby said.

He said the burst main was caused by dry conditions affecting the ground and moving pipes.

"It's just a bad day for it,” Cr Saxelby said.

But residents and visitors alike can be rest assured Western Downs Regional Council is on the case, with Chinchilla water utilities staff already working to solve the problem.

Cr Saxelby said the council general manager of infrastructure was on his way to town from Dalby, along with Dalby utilities staff, while other towns' 'water boys' were also being called in.

He said the break should be fixed by about 4pm.

In a post on the Western Downs Regional Council Facebook page council asked residents to use portable toilets, not public ones.

The post said the portaloos are located in and around the Main Street.

Residents have taken to the Chinchilla Community Forum on Facebook, listing affected streets including Pilkington St, Zeller St, Archer St, Dudley St, Wambo St, Campbell St, Ellem Dr, Atkins St, Gower St, Frame St, Sheridan St, Bridgeman Pde, Colamba St, Skewis St.