Reconstruction efforts are progressing in the areas of Ishikawa Prefecture that were hit by a massive earthquake on New Year's Day. Some people on the Noto Peninsula were relieved to have water and drainage services again on Sunday.

Cheers erupted at an evacuation center in Suzu City when water became available more than two months after the quake.

The restoration of the services was welcomed at a barbershop in the center of the city. After the store reopened last month, customers were only able to get dry haircuts.

But some parts of the city are still without water. The manager of a shochu liquor brewery does not know when he will be able to resume production, as bottles cannot be cleaned.

City officials hope the water supply can be fully restored in May.

The governor of Ishikawa Prefecture is seeking the opinions of residents and local municipalities about the recovery work. He says the prefecture will use lessons learned from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and focus on building communities in a sensible and practical manner.