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New Zealand · Safe water

Safe water in New Zealand: notices, drought and what to store

In New Zealand, water notices come from your supplier, usually the council. NEMA advises at least 9 litres of water per person for three days or more.

Updated 2026-10-27· 8 official sources

Short answer. Water notices in New Zealand come from your drinking water supplier, usually your local council: check the council's website first, then its social media or opt-in text service 1. There are three warning notices: Boil Water, Do Not Drink and Do Not Use 1. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) advises at least 9 litres of water per person for three days or more 5.

How do I know if my tap water is unsafe?

Your supplier tells you. A water supplier, such as a council, may issue a notice when there is a problem with the supply, and the notice stays until the water is safe again 1. If you are on a council supply, the first place to check is the council's website; most councils also use social media, and some have opt-in text services 1. Not on a council supply? Your supplier has a duty to advise consumers when water is or may be unsafe 1. The regulator, Taumata Arowai, keeps a public register where you can find who supplies your water 23. Phaenyx found no national list of notices in force.

The notices, according to Taumata Arowai 1:

Notice When What it means
Boil Water Water contains or could contain bugs, e.g. E. coli detected or damaged pipes Boil (or otherwise treat) water for drinking, food, teeth and infant formula; showering and laundry are fine
Do Not Drink Water is or could be contaminated with harmful chemicals or toxins; boiling will not help Use bottled water for drinking, cooking, teeth, food, formula, ice and pets
Do Not Use Any contact may be unsafe (rare) Do not use tap water for any purpose, including bathing

When a boil water notice is lifted, run all cold taps for five minutes and flush appliances such as coffee machines and ice makers 1. See What to do during a boil-water notice and Do-not-drink notices. How emergency alerts reach your phone is on our New Zealand alerts page.

How much water should I store?

At least 9 litres per person, for drinking and basic hygiene, for three days or more 5. Taumata Arowai adds: top up any water stored on your property before summer and store it safely 4. Full lists are on our New Zealand emergency supplies page; see also How much water to store per person per day? and Water storage containers.

Is New Zealand short of water?

Nationally, no; locally, it can be in a dry summer. In WRI's Aqueduct 4.0 model, the population-weighted median of New Zealand cities is in the "low" category for water stress today and in 2050, and "low to medium" for drought risk 7. These are city medians: a given district can be drier.

Drought can bring outdoor-use restrictions, shortages and, when network pressure drops, a risk of contaminants being sucked into pipes, which can lead to a boil notice 4. Your supplier, for most people the council, sets restrictions and tells you about them 4. The New Zealand Drought Index maps the dryness of every district in five categories, from dry to severe drought 6. See Drought preparedness.

What if I use rainwater or a bore?

Untreated rainwater, bore water and stream water may contain germs: do not use it for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth or washing dishes 4. Boiling is the best way to kill most germs; store boiled water in a clean covered container and use it within 24 hours 4. Boiling does not remove chemicals 4. Taumata Arowai publishes flood factsheets, including for bore water and rainwater 8. See Private well emergencies and Water safety after a flood. A household plan can keep your supplier's contacts and water stock in one place.

Frequently asked questions

Who issues boil water notices in New Zealand?

Your drinking water supplier, usually the local council 14.

Can I shower during a boil water notice?

Yes: water for showering and laundry does not need to be boiled 1.

Does boiling make water safe during a Do Not Drink notice?

No. These notices cover chemicals or toxins that boiling does not remove 1.

How much water for three days?

At least 9 litres per person, according to NEMA 5.

Sources

  1. The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai — Types of drinking water notices — https://www.taumataarowai.govt.nz/for-the-public/drinking-water-in-an-emergency/drinking-water-notices (accessed 2026-10-27)
  2. The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai — Drinking water in an emergency — https://www.taumataarowai.govt.nz/for-the-public/drinking-water-in-an-emergency (accessed 2026-10-27)
  3. The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai — Who supplies your drinking water? (public registers) — https://www.taumataarowai.govt.nz/for-the-public/public-registers (accessed 2026-10-27)
  4. The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai — Dry weather and drinking water — https://www.taumataarowai.govt.nz/for-the-public/dry-weather (accessed 2026-10-27)
  5. National Emergency Management Agency (Get Ready) — Work out what supplies you need (large print, file aug26, produced 2022) — https://getready.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/documents/alternate-formats/large-print/docx/21-supplies-lp-en-aug26.docx (accessed 2026-10-27)
  6. Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly NIWA) — NIWA launches New Zealand Drought Index - a one-stop drought monitor — https://niwa.co.nz/news/niwa-launches-new-zealand-drought-index-one-stop-drought-monitor (accessed 2026-10-27)
  7. World Resources Institute (WRI) — Aqueduct 4.0 (water stress, 2050 projection and drought risk) — https://www.wri.org/aqueduct (accessed 2026-10-27)
  8. The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai — Drinking water following a flood — https://www.taumataarowai.govt.nz/for-the-public/drinking-water-in-an-emergency/drinking-water-following-a-flood (accessed 2026-10-27)

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Sources

  1. The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai · Types of drinking water notices checked 2026-10-27
  2. The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai · Drinking water in an emergency checked 2026-10-27
  3. The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai · Who supplies your drinking water? (public registers) checked 2026-10-27
  4. The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai · Dry weather and drinking water checked 2026-10-27
  5. National Emergency Management Agency (Get Ready) · Work out what supplies you need (large print, file aug26, produced 2022) checked 2026-10-27
  6. Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly NIWA) · NIWA launches New Zealand Drought Index - a one-stop drought monitor checked 2026-10-27
  7. World Resources Institute (WRI) · Aqueduct 4.0 (water stress, 2050 projection and drought risk) checked 2026-10-27
  8. The Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai · Drinking water following a flood checked 2026-10-27