Issuing a drinking water notice
How to issue a notice if water you supply isn't safe
Communicate to keep people safe
If there could be a risk to health from the drinking water you supply, you need to issue a Boil Water, Do Not Drink Water or Do Not Use Water notice to reduce the chance of someone becoming ill. Share the notice and keep it in place until the water is safe to drink or use normally.
When issuing a drinking water notice, inform everyone who uses your water. It’s important to do this quickly and in the most direct way because of the risk someone could get sick.
Depending on your supply and the people who use the water, you might email, text, call, door knock and/or post on social media. Put the notice up near any taps that people might use.
The type of notice you issue will be decided by the risk to your water supply. You can download the correct notice in the drop-down menu below.
Boil Water notice
A Boil Water notice needs to be issued when:
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E. coli or harmful microorganisms are detected in the water
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a risk of contamination is identified, e.g. a problem with the treatment system or damage to pipes.
People using your water supply should boil or use bottled water to drink, mix baby formula, brush their teeth, prepare food, wash dishes by hand, make ice, clean and give to their pets while the Boil Water notice is in place.
You must keep the Boil Water notice in place until issues with your water supply have been identified and fixed.
Use our Boil Water notice template to keep people informed.
Do Not Drink Water notice
A Do Not Drink Water notice needs to be issued when:
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chemicals or toxins are detected in your water at levels that are harmful to drink
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there is increased risk that chemicals and toxins in your water are at harmful levels.
In this case, boiling water will not make it safe to drink.
People using your water supply should use bottled water or water from a registered water carrier (from a tanker) to drink, cook, brush teeth, wash fruit and vegetables, prepare food, mix baby formula, make ice and give to pets.
You must keep the Do Not Drink Water notice in place until the risks with your water supply have been fixed.
Use our Do Not Drink Water notice template to keep people informed.
Do Not Use Water notice
A Do Not Use Water notice needs to be issued when:
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your water is, or might be, contaminated with something that could cause a risk if people come into contact with it, e.g. causing harm to skin, lungs or eyes.
People connected to your water supply must not use tap water for any purpose, including bathing.
In this case, boiling water will not make it safe to drink or use.
You might consider providing an alternative source of water. Bottled water and registered water carriers (water tankers) are good options.
You must keep the Do Not Use Water notice in place until the risks with your water supply have been fixed.
Use our Do Not Use Water notice template to keep people informed.