Water carriers were diverted to the south (5)
I believe the answer is:
ewers
'water carriers' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'were diverted to the south' is the wordplay.
'diverted' indicates anagramming the letters (letters must be diverted to different positions).
'to the south' becomes 's' (abbreviation).
'were' anagrammed gives 'ewer'.
'ewer'+'s'='EWERS'
(Other definitions for ewers that I've seen before include "Pitchers" , "Water jugs" , "Vessels with handle and spout" , "Jugs thrown into sewer" , "Vase-shaped jugs" .)