A CONTRACTOR for telephone company Optus broke the water main while laying new cables. 

Coliban Water said the Strathfieldsaye Supa IGA and Braidie's Tavern 

UPDATE 3.45PM: 

A COLIBAN Water spokeswoman said about 340 properties were without water after a contractor broke a water main in Strathfieldsaye just before 2pm. 

She said the main was expected to be repaired in about two hours. 

EARLIER: 

BUSINESSES at the Strath Village Shopping Centre are without water after a contractor broke a water main out the front of the complex on Thursday. 

A Heidi For Hair staff member said the hairdressing salon, which is open until 9am tonight, had to cancel all of its appointments. 

She said the business also had to purchase bottled water to rinse colour out of the hair of clients in the middle of their appointments. 

"The water was flowing really gently and then we went to the toilet and it was the same," she said. 

"We asked the IGA and they said it was the whole complex."

The staff member said the business had not been told when the water would be reconnected.