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Drinking Water

We supply clean, safe drinking water to about 51,000 people across 21,500 homes.

We do this through a well-managed network of pipes that serves three main areas: Eastern, Central, and Western zones. Our water comes from secure, deep, underground aquifers, which is pumped directly to homes and businesses.

We’re responsible for ensuring a reliable and high-quality water supply for households, businesses, and industries. We hold 14 resource consents to take water from rivers and bores, although we currently only extract water from the bores.

To keep the water flowing smoothly across our rohe, we treat, store, and distribute it through a network that includes:

  • 9 treatment plants
  • 26 reservoirs and tank sites
  • 26 booster pump stations
  • 915 km of pipes

Water is supplied continuously, and we ensure that any breaks in the system are fixed quickly by our contractors to keep your water service running smoothly.

Due to the large size of our rohe, we operate our water supply network in three zones:

  • Eastern Zone: Supplies Te Puke, Maketu, Paengaroa, Pukehina, and surrounding rural areas. Several pump stations help maintain water pressure for homes higher up in the hills.
  • Western Zone: Supplies Waihī Beach, Island View, Bowentown, Athenree, Katikati, and nearby rural areas.
  • Central Zone: Covers Ōmokoroa, Te Puna, Minden, and inland Ōmokoroa areas. The Western and Central zones are linked to balance supply during peak demand.

We regularly test our water to ensure it meets high quality standards. You can view detailed reports on water quality for each zone here:

  • Eastern Water Supply Analytical Reports
  • Western Water Supply Analytical Reports
  • Central Water Supply Analytical Reports

Silica

  • Silica is naturally present in all water and comes from volcanic rocks and soils. Our water has a slightly higher silica level (58-97 mg/L), which is safe to drink.
  • Silica may leave cloudy white deposits on surfaces like shower walls and kettles when water evaporates. Wipe down wet surfaces after use to prevent this, or use cleaning products to remove any build-up.

Hardness

Water hardness is based on the following scale:

Total Hardness (Ca & Mg as CaCO3) Milligrams Per Litre (mg/L)

Grams Per Cubic Meter (g/m3)

Parts Per Million (ppm)

Classification

0-17

Soft

17-60

Slightly Hard

60-120

Moderately Hard

120-180

Hard

Above 180

Very Hard

Water hardness of WBOPDC’s water supplies (tested 23 September 2024)

Supply Area

Total Hardness (Ca & Mg as CaCO3) Milligrams Per Litre (mg/L)

Grams Per Cubic Meter (g/m3)

Parts Per Million (ppm)

Eastern - Te Puke Bores

14.6 - 19.1

Eastern – Pongakawa Bore

44

Central Bores

11.2 - 26

Western Bores – Katikati

36 - 40

Western Bores – Athenree, Waihi Beach, Tahawai

29 - 46

Here’s a simple breakdown of everything that goes into our water supply:

1. Fluoride

  • We've been instructed by the Ministry of Health to begin fluoridating the water supply in 2025. Want to find out more? Head to our dedicated Fluoride page here.

2. Chlorine

  • A small amount of chlorine is added to the water supply to keep it safe as it travels through the pipes to your home. Most people don’t notice a taste or smell, but if you do, a water filter or leaving a jug of water in the fridge can help.

Tip: Use a carbon filter or keep tap water in the fridge to help reduce any taste or odour.

More information on chlorine can be found here: https://www.taumataarowai.govt.nz/for-communities/...

3. Caustic Soda

  • Some of our supplies need caustic soda added to ensure the pH of the water is within an acceptable range

We're encouraging all Western Bay residents to flush their water taps each day before drinking or using water for cooking. Why? To help remove any metals that may have dissolved from your household plumbing.

While your taps sit unused overnight or for several hours, metals like lead, nickel, cadmium, copper, and antimony can build up in the water. The Ministry of Health recommends running your tap and discarding the first 500ml of water each morning or after you’ve been away for the day.

Tip: Use this water for your plants instead of letting it go to waste!

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