West Coast residents look likely to have to boil water until Monday at the earliest. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
People in Greymouth and the wider district will have to boil their water until at least early next week.
The boil water notice was issued on Wednesday after test results found bacteria often linked to human and animal waste in the area's water supplies.
The Grey District Council said results from Thursday's testing showed the bacteria was only recorded in the Kaiata water supply zone and had significantly dropped.
E.coli was not found in the water.
Council chief executive Joanne Soderlund said staff stated the earliest the boil water notice could be lifted was Monday afternoon but that would also depend on the latest test results.
"We understand the level of concern and inconvenience across the community in these instances, however, we must take every precaution possible to ensure there is no risk to public health," she said.
The affected areas included Greymouth, Cobden, Blaketown, Boddytown, Karoro, South Beach, Paroa, Kaiata, Dobson, Taylorville, Stillwater, Runanga, Dunollie, Coal Creek and Rapahoe.
The council planned to provide a further update once Friday's test results had been confirmed.
The New Zealand Food Network donated bottled water, which was expected to be available from the council's Tainui Street carpark from midday Saturday for those who needed it.
The council said it would confirm the exact timing and process on its Facebook page.
Soderlund said the council was working closely with water regulator Taumata Arowai and was required to follow rules set out in the Water Services Act 2021.
The boil water notice could not to be lifted until after three consecutive days of clear testing, Soderlund said.
The council said all drinking water had to be boiled before use, as well as water used for cooking, preparing food or baby formula, brushing teeth and making ice.
Hospitality businesses also had to use boiled water for handwashing in food preparation areas.
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