Update as of 11am Tuesday 30 September
Boil Water Notice for Rūātoki Lifted
Whakatāne District Council has lifted the boil water notice for Rūātoki.
The UV water treatment system is now operating effectively following the recent heavy rain, and the water supply is once again safe to drink without boiling.
We appreciate the patience and cooperation of Rūātoki residents during this time.
Please note: if further heavy rain occurs, the boil water notice may need to be reinstated. We encourage residents to check this website for the latest updates.
For more information, please contact Whakatāne District Council on 07 306 0500 or visit our Contact Us page.
Latest update as of 6.30pm Thursday 25 September, 2025:
Due to recent heavy rainfall, the Rūātoki Water Treatment Plant’s ultraviolet (UV) treatment system is currently unable to operate effectively. The rainfall has caused increased turbidity (cloudiness) in the water supply, which prevents the UV system from fully neutralising harmful bacteria and viruses.
As a result, a Boil Water Notice is now in effect for all residents of Rūātoki.
What you need to do:
- Boil all water for at least 3 minutes before using it for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, or preparing food.
- If using an electric kettle or jug, you may need to boil the water twice to reach this duration.
The Council is continuing treatment and regularly testing the water around the water pipe network. The water is currently safe to use as long as it is boiled first. If there’s any change in water quality, we’ll let you know straight away.
We’re testing the water daily. The notice will stay in place until the water is confirmed safe to drink without boiling.
For ongoing updates, please check here, or our social media channels.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to keep our community safe.