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Boil Water Notice

What is a boil water notice

A boil water notice is an instruction, put in place when the drinking water supply contains, or could contain, bugs or microorganisms that could make you sick.

Boil water notices are put in place when E. coli is detected in the water or when the supplier has identified a risk of contamination such as a problem with the treatment system or damage to pipework.

When a boil water notice is in place, boiling is the most effective way to disinfect tap water as it will kill all disease-causing bugs.

What to do when a boil water notice is in place

When a boil water notice is in place you need to boil all water before using it for:

  • drinking,
  • preparing food,
  • brushing teeth,
  • and preparing infant formula.

Note that water for showering and laundry does not need to be boiled.

For specific guidance on things like food and drinks, washing dishes, personal hygiene and pets and animals, see the Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai website.

Boil water instructions

Follow these instructions to boil your water:

  • Boil the water in an electric jug until the jug turns off automatically. Or bring the water to a rolling boil (where bubbles appear in the centre and do not disappear when the water is stirred) for one minute.
  • Store cooled boiled water in a clean container with a lid.
  • Boiled water is best used within 24 hours and can be boiled again to be sure it is safe. This is especially important for preparing infant formula.

What to do if you don’t like the taste of boiled water

Boiled water can taste a bit flat. To improve the taste, you can:

  • pour cooled water back and forth from one clean glass into another to add air to the water
  • let the water stand for a few hours
  • add a pinch of salt to each litre of boiled water
  • chill the water in the fridge.

While boiling water is the most effective way to disinfect tap water, there are some other options, including using commercially bottled water, purification tablets or bleach. Find out more about these other options on the Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai website.

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