Boil water notice
Find up to date information regarding current boil water notices.
Boil water notice: Hillsborough, Mt Roskill, Royal Oak and Three Kings
Update (8 April): Boil water notice lifted
Watercare has lifted the boil water notice that was in place for parts of Hillsborough, Mt Roskill, Royal Oak and Three Kings. Drinking water in the affected area is now safe to use as normal.
Our investigations have confirmed that the issue was caused by a specific water quality monitoring tap within our extensive network of water quality monitoring locations. The tap has now been replaced and subsequently retested, and we can confirm it was the source of the issue. This has been fully addressed, and there is no ongoing risk to the drinking water supply. We are satisfied that water quality is normal and meets all safety standards. This is supported by multiple clear test results across the affected area, confirming the water supply is safe.
What happened
A routine water sample taken earlier this week returned a single E. coli result. While all other results from that sample were within normal ranges, we issued a boil water notice as a precautionary public health measure, in consultation with Taumata Arowai, our water regulator.
This cautious approach is standard practice and allows time for further testing and inspections to ensure drinking water remains safe.
Thank you to the community
We would like to thank residents and businesses for their patience and understanding and for following the advice while we worked through this issue. We know the notice caused disruption, and we appreciate the cooperation shown while we took a careful and precautionary approach to protecting public health.
Support and next steps
All temporary water tankers in the area will now be stood down. We will continue to monitor the network closely and carry out follow-up checks as part of our normal water quality assurance processes.
You can always visit our website for more information: watercare.co.nz
FAQs
FAQs
Why has Watercare issued a boil water notice?
A routine water test in the area showed a positive result for E. coli. All other test results were normal. Watercare has issued the boil water notice as a precaution to protect public health while the result is investigated.
Which areas of Auckland are affected?
Watercare has issued a boil water notice on the evening of Sunday, April 6 for Hillsborough, Mt Roskill, Royal Oak and Three Kings. Not all streets are affected. Please check the maps above to see if your property is included.
If Auckland gets water from the same place, why are only these suburbs affected?
Our bulk water infrastructure – water treatment plants and transmission watermains – supply water to bulk supply points around Auckland, which then supply water to the different network distribution zones. These zones allow us to control network operation like water pressure and, importantly, to contain any potential water quality issues to a small area.
This means there is no risk to the wider Auckland network. Water samples are taken at least once a day from sample taps across all the distribution zones.
What should residents in impacted zone do?
Residents should use boiled tap water or storebought bottled water for drinking, cleaning teeth, making ice, washing dishes, and preparing food until further notice.
Boiling water in an electric kettle is sufficient to kill bacteria and other organisms. The water only needs to be boiled once, then it can be cooled before use.
How do people boil water safely?
The safest method is to boil water in an electric kettle until it switches off once. If using a stove, bring water to a rolling boil for one minute. Store cooled boiled water in a clean, covered container.
What if this has been happening for a while and we’ve only just found out?
From time to time, a single E. coli result can occur for reasons that don’t reflect a problem within the network itself. For example, it could be caused by contamination at the sample tap or environmental factors such as wind or rain during sampling.
These are rare events — on average, we might see around three isolated detections a year. In those cases, all other test results have been normal, and follow-up testing confirms the water is safe. We have robust processes in place to maintain the integrity of our network and minimise the chance of contamination.
When it comes to these rare positive results, we take guidance from Taumata Arowai and work closely with them to adopt a precautionary approach. This means that if we receive a positive result, we may issue a boil water notice while we carry out further testing.
This approach puts public health first and is increasingly being adopted across New Zealand. Once we are confident that all results are back within drinking water standards, the notice is lifted.
Is hot water from the tap safe to drink?
No. Hot tap water is not hot enough to kill bacteria and must not be used for drinking or food preparation.
Do households with water filters still need to boil water?
Yes. Most household water filters do not remove bacteria or viruses. Residents will need to replace their filter cartridge after the boil water notice is lifted.
Is it safe to shower or bathe?
Yes. People can shower or bathe but should avoid swallowing water or getting it in their eyes, nose or mouth. Please watch over children and vulnerable people.
Is it safe to wash hands with tap water?
Yes, for general hygiene. If preparing food, hands should be washed with soap and boiled or bottled water, then dried thoroughly.
Can customers use dishwashers?
Yes - dishwashers can be used on the hot cycle. For extra caution, dishes can be soaked for one minute in a bleach solution (1 dessert spoon of bleach in a full sink of water) after the cycle.
What if someone has already drunk the water?
The risk of becoming ill is low, but if customers experience diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or stomach cramps, they should contact Healthline (0800 611 116) or their doctor.
Where can residents get water?
Watercare has set up water tankers in the area for residents to access free drinking water.
Two public tankers are available at:
- Big King Reserve, 113 Duke Street
- Hillsborough Park carpark, Carlton Street
A third tanker has been set up specifically to support a local retirement village.
The public tankers will remain open overnight and will continue to be available until the issue is resolved. Residents are asked to bring clean containers to collect water.
Watercare understands this situation is disruptive for households and businesses and thanks the community for their patience while the issue is being addressed.