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Fire hydrants

Fire hydrant flushing in progress.

About fire hydrants

There are over 2,300 fire hydrants around the Taupō district that are installed, owned and maintained by Taupō District Council. Most are covered by a yellow cast iron lid with a yellow triangle painted on the pavement so they can be easily identified.

Fire hydrants connect directly into our water supply network, providing firefighters with fast access to a high-pressure water supply for putting out fires.

Only Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) and council have the right to access water from our fire hydrants. Any unlawful hydrant use or water extraction is prohibited and penalties will be applied to anyone undertaking unauthorised filling.

To learn about access to bulk water supplies, see bulk water filling stations.

Fire hydrant flushing

To ensure our water supply network across the Taupō District remains safe, reliable and ready for emergencies, we regularly flush fire hydrants.

This routine maintenance work – where high-pressure water is released from the hydrant – helps to clear out naturally occurring sediment and mineral deposits that can build up in water pipes over time. It also helps to ensure hydrants and valves are working properly, and acts as a vital check that water is flowing at the pressure needed for firefighting purposes.

We may also flush hydrants after planned or urgent watermain shutdowns. This helps remove air from the pipes and checks the network is working properly after the work is complete.

What to expect during hydrant flushing

Where possible, we carry out hydrant flushing at times when demand is lower than usual, to minimise any disruption.

If you see fire hydrant flushing near you, you’ll likely notice water running into drains on the street – it’s hard to miss!

Inside your home, you may notice:

  • a short drop in water pressure
  • discoloured or rusty-looking water coming out of your taps
  • cloudy or milky-looking water caused by air bubbles.

These changes are only temporary and things should return to normal once the flushing work has been completed.

Yes – water remains safe to drink during hydrant flushing.

If your water becomes discoloured during or after hydrant flushing:

  • run a cold tap for several minutes until the water clears
  • avoid washing clothes until the water runs clear, as sediment may stain fabrics
  • if you have a hot water cylinder, run a hot tap for a few minutes after the cold water has cleared.

If the water is still discoloured, cloudy or rusty after about 10 minutes of flushing your tap, or if water pressure problems continue, please contact us so we can investigate.

If you have any questions or concerns about hydrant flushing, call us on 07 376 0899 or email info@taupo.govt.nz.

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