Pātea Boil Water Advisory LIFTED

31 October 2025

On 17 September, a boil water advisory was issued to all residents in Pātea while we installed an ultraviolet (UV) disinfection unit (effective primary barrier) at the water treatment plant.

The UV disinfection unit has now been installed, and the boil water advisory has been lifted. This means you no longer need to boil your drinking water.

There are some actions you should take when a boil water advisory is lifted.

• Run all your cold taps for five minutes before using the water.
• Flush any appliances (e.g. coffee machines, water dispensers, ice makers) that are connected to the water supply.
• Empty and refill any header tanks or water storage tanks used for drinking water.
• Any water filters should be maintained and replaced according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Plans to build a new water treatment plant for Pātea are underway. This new plant is currently out for tender and is expected to be completed within the next 12 months. Once completed the new plant will, through disinfection, provide an effective secondary or residual barrier for the Pātea drinking water network.

Residual disinfection

Residual disinfection with chlorine keeps treated water safe after it leaves a drinking water plant and moves through the pipes before reaching people’s taps. The newly installed UV unit does not provide residual disinfection that meets drinking water regulatory requirements.

If you are concerned about your water supply, as an extra precaution until the new water treatment plant is installed, you could consider boiling water for cooking and drinking before using. Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, the elderly, infants and young children or those with a compromised immune system should take extra care.

Thank you for your patience and understanding while the boil water advisory was in place. If you require further information, please contact our customer services team on 0800 111 323.

ENDS

17 September 2025

Dear Pātea residents,

This notice is to let you know we have been directed by the Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai to put a boil water advisory in place for the Pātea community for your health and wellbeing.

We also want to update you on what we are doing to get the advisory lifted and the plans we have for building a new water treatment plant.

Boil water advice

We advise that you boil tap water for cooking and drinking before use, until further notice (which we expect will be around 4 – 6 weeks). Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, infants and young children or those with a compromised immune system should take extra care.

Background

The water supply for Pātea comes from deep aquifers that have served the town well for many decades. However, these aquifers contain elements which can make treatment and disinfection challenging.

New drinking water quality assurance rules were introduced in late 2022 and as a result the supply currently lacks sufficient disinfection to fully meet these. Untreated drinking water has a risk of bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium that can make you sick.

Drinking water suppliers use arange of processes, procedures and tools to protect and treat water to make it safe and keep it safe as it travels to the people who drink it. This means that there’s always a range of safeguards (or barriers) to make sure hazards and risks that might affect drinking water are addressed and the water stays safe.

The Pātea water supply does not currently have effective disinfection treatment and carries a potential risk of micro-biological contamination in the water supply. Taumata Arowai has advised the Council that a boil water advisory is the only way to effectively manage the risk until a sufficient primary barrier is put in place. Boiling water is a simple but effective way of killing any bacteria, protozoa and viruses that may be present.

Regular testing and monitoring

We have a rigorous sampling programme which continuously tests the town's water supply to monitor disinfection levels and for E.coli. Our daily testing to date has detected no E.coli in the water network. If we find any contamination, we will inform the community immediately.

New Pātea Water Treatment Plant and Ultraviolet Disinfection

The Council has committed to a detailed plan and a major investment to protect the health of the community. Over the next 4 – 6 weeks we are installing an ultraviolet (UV) disinfection unit which provides an effective barrier against protozoa and bacteria. We are also working on building a new water treatment plant which will fully meet the new standards. This new plant is currently out for tender and is expected to be completed within the next 12 months.

Deputy Mayor and Pātea local Rob Northcott says that while the water is still the same as what we’ve previously had, the only way to be completely sure is to boil it until the UV unit is installed. The Council is committed to having all safety barriers in place by building a new fully compliant water treatment plant in Pātea.

You can contact either Rob (027 242 6130) or the water team toll free on 0800 111 323 Monday to Friday from 8:00am - 5:00pm for any advice or clarification. Further updates will be provided here on Council’s website or alternatively download our Antenno app to have updates sent directly to your mobile phone at www.southtaranaki.com/antenno.

Please pass this message on to tenants, members of your household and others who might not have received this letter.

Kind regards,

STDC Water Team

Boil Water Advisory safety precautions

When a boil water advisory is in effect, follow these guidelines for your safety and wellbeing.

• Boil water: Bring water to boil in a kettle, or in a pot on the stovetop until bubbles form. Allow to cool or use immediately for cooking or hot beverages. Boil all tap water you use for drinking, preparing food, brushing teeth, making ice, or preparing infant formula. Store cooled boiled water in a clean container with a lid. Refrigerate until needed.
• Use bottled water: You can pick up free bottled water from the Pātea LibraryPlus during usual opening hours.
• Dishes: All dishes should be washed with boiled water.
• Handwashing and showering: It is safe to use water and soap as long as you avoid swallowing the water. Take extra care and supervise young children.
• Other uses e.g. laundry: The risk of illness is very low where you are not going to drink the water. Laundry can be washed as normal.

Boil your water until we let you know that the boil water advisory has been lifted.

For further information, visit the Water Services Authority website: Staying well during a boil water notice | Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai