Consumers on the LOWER WAITAKI WATER SUPPLY are advised of a BOIL WATER NOTICE and a CONSERVE WATER NOTICE.There are CONSERVE WATER NOTICES on the OAMARU, AWAMOKO and TOKARAHI water supplies.
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Published on 09 July 2026
Oamaru residents and businesses are being asked to conserve water today after recent heavy rain affected the quality of source water supplying the town. High turbidity – suspended mud, silt and other fine particles – has reduced how much water the treatment plant can process. Oamaru water remains safe to drink, but everyone is asked to minimise non-essential water use while the plant catches up.
A: Heavy rain has led to flood waters entering the source water for Oamaru leading to increased turbidity and potential contaminants. This means the water treatment plant cannot process water at its normal rate. To help protect treated-water storage and keep the system operating, Council is enforcing water conservation and asking all customers to reduce non-essential water use now.
A: Anything that is not urgent or necessary but especially washing down pathways and driveways, watering gardens, washing cars, using a half full dishwasher, and small loads in the washing machine.
A: No. Oamaru water remains safe to drink unless Council issues a boil water notice for the Oamaru supply. The current action for Oamaru is to conserve water, not boil water.
A: We manage, operate and develop water facilities so they meet drinking water safety requirements and support our communities’ future needs.
We use monitoring data, risk assessment and best-practice guidance to understand each supply and identify where improvements are needed.
We take a proactive approach to potential drinking-water quality issues, including putting preventative measures, response plans and public notices in place when needed.
A: We regularly monitor and assess drinking-water quality, including source water, and provide updates to affected customers, key stakeholders and the wider community when issues occur.
A: We engage with local Rūnanga on drinking-water supply and quality matters, including significant changes, risks and issues that affect communities.
A: Turbidity is cloudiness in water caused by very small particles such as silt, clay or organic material. It often increases after heavy rain, flooding or changes in river and groundwater conditions. High turbidity does not always mean water is unsafe, but it can make treatment more difficult and can affect the checks needed to confirm drinking-water safety.
A: Recent heavy rain has increased turbidity in some source water and bores across the district. For Oamaru, this has reduced the amount of water the treatment plant can process. For the Lower Waitaki Water Supply, high turbidity has also delayed the testing needed before its boil water notice can be lifted.
A: Oamaru is currently under a conserve water notice. Other Waitaki District supplies may also have boil and/or conserve notices in place, including Lower Waitaki, Awamoko and Tokarahi. Customers should follow the latest notice for their specific supply, as the status of each notice may change as testing and operational conditions improve.
A: Yes. Council’s current advice is that Oamaru water remains safe to drink. The issue is that high turbidity has slowed treatment, so customers need to conserve water while the treatment plant returns to normal operation.
A: Council is monitoring source-water quality, managing treatment-plant operations, conserving treated-water storage, flushing affected bores where required, and carrying out the testing needed to confirm supplies are safe. We are also issuing public notices and updates so customers know what actions to take.
A: Conserve water notices are needed when the treatment plant cannot produce treated water at the usual rate, or when storage levels need to be protected. In Oamaru, high turbidity has reduced treatment capacity. Saving water helps maintain pressure, protect reservoir levels, support essential use and give the plant time to recover.
A: Please stop non-essential water use until the conserve water notice is lifted. Do not wash cars or boats, refill pools, water lawns or gardens, or use water for outdoor cleaning. Take shorter showers, turn taps off fully, fix or report leaks, and only run washing machines and dishwashers with full loads. Commercial users are also asked to reduce water use wherever possible.
A: Notices will be lifted only when operational conditions have stabilised and monitoring or testing confirms it is safe to do so. For the Lower Waitaki Water Supply, Council has advised that testing can be completed once affected bores have been flushed again and the required clear results are achieved.
A: Customers should check Council’s latest water notices and follow the instructions for their specific supply. If you are unsure which supply you are on, or you need help understanding a notice, contact Council on 03 433 0300.