21 February 2022

From Wellington Water:

Our crews have been working over the weekend and are ready to start flushing the Featherston water network this morning.

Flushing will clear the network of any contaminants and is expected to be completed by this evening.

Your water supply will continue while we flush the network, but you may experience lower water pressure than normal. 

When the flushing process has been completed, we will take water samples for testing to confirm the water is safe to drink. We will then monitor the network for at least three days to ensure the system is clear. Please continue to boil all drinking water during this time.

A water tanker for residents to use is in place on Fox Street, opposite the skate park. The tanker will be available while we flush the water network and take samples to confirm it is safe to drink.

Water from the tanker is treated and does not need to be boiled. However, please continue to boil any water from your taps for a full minute before consumption.

We understand the boil water notice is frustrating and we appreciate your patience. We expect the boil water notice to be lifted later this week.

The boil water notice applies to all businesses and residents connected to the urban water supply.

Boiling water will kill all disease-causing organisms, water must be boiled before:

• Drinking,
• Making baby formula, juice, or ice,
• Washing fruit and vegetables,
• Preparing food or cooking
• Or brushing teeth.

If you are washing dishes by hand, then boiled water should be used. If your dishwasher has a hot setting, it can be used to wash dishes. If it doesn’t have a hot setting, once it’s finished, rinse the dishes in a bleach solution afterwards (2 drops unscented household bleach per 1 litre of water). Allow the dishes to completely air dry. You can continue to do your laundry as you normally would.

How to boil water for drinking:

• Bring water to a rolling boil (where bubbles appear in the centre and do not disappear when the water is stirred) for one minute or boil a full electric jug until it switches off.
• Cool water (do not use ice cubes to do this) and pour into clean container with a lid.
• Refrigerate until needed.
• Babies, young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people who have weakened immune systems are more at risk of illness. If you get diarrhoea, vomiting and/or a fever, get advice from your doctor or contact Healthline (0800 611 116).

For more information contact South Wairarapa District Council on 06 306 9611 or go to wellingtonwater.co.nz