Water and Waste Services FAQ

My water tastes funny, is it safe to drink?

Hamilton water is of a very high quality.

The water is treated so that it is safe to the point of connection to private property.

Ministry of Health grading is Aa.

Regularly monitored (microbiologically and chemically) for compliance to the New Zealand dinking water standards.

Sometimes there may be a slight taste/smell, which could be due to many things such as chlorine, seasonal changes in the source water (Waikato River), moving between areas and plumbing problems.

Are they putting more chlorine in the water these days?

Hamilton must adhere to the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards when dosing chlorine.

To ensure disinfection of the water throughout the water pipes until it reaches customers, a small amount of chlorine (residual) is allowed to stay in the water, small amounts of chlorine WILL NOT cause harm.

Chlorine dissipates with time. The longer it takes for the water to get to the tap the less chlorine that will be present. This can mean people living close to the plant experience slightly higher levels of chlorine than those living at the edge of the city.

As Hamilton grows the amount of chlorine dosed at the WTS needs to increase slightly so as to ensure disinfection occurs at the edges of the distribution.

When strong tastes are experienced improve taste by:

1. Expose water in a clear uncovered jug to sunlight for one hour.
2. Place an air tight container (preferably made of glass or polycarbonate) of water in the fridge before drinking – cool water always tastes better, but throw away any unused water after 24 hours.
3. Adding a few drops of lemon juice to the water before drinking.
4. If using a filter to remove chlorine or other tastes it is essential that all manufacturer instructions be carefully followed.

Why does it still taste awful after boiling it in the jug or from the hot tap?

Taste and odour is more readily noticed in heated water.

When water is boiled it loses all of its dissolved gases, which makes it taste flat.

Hot water can also leach copper out of pipes and cylinders.

If the water from the hot tap tastes foul it could be due to the fact that the water has most probably been sitting in the hot water cylinder for a while and has gone stale. Sediment buildup in the cylinder can also contribute to the taste and odour, cylinders should be cleaned out regularly. Boiling of the water will not improve the tast at all. Drinking water should not be sourced from the hot tap (this includes water to be boiled in the kettle). Not only can the water taste stale but also bacteria could be growing in the cylinder.

Why does my water taste foul?

Water picks up taste and odour very easily, e.g., water stored in a refrigerator will eventually absorb the odour of foods such as garlic and onions.

People's perception of taste and odour varies widely.

Water that sits in pipes for long periods of time through lack of use often exhibits a stale taste and odour. This can occur if the taps are not flushed first thing in the morning, arriving home from work in the evening, coming back from holiday, etc. It can also occur in cul-de-sacs in winter months when water usage is low (running your water for a while will remedy this).

Customer plumbing – stale water taste can also be a sign of cross connections. (dishwashers, hoses, irrigation systems, etc…)

Smoking, medications, alcohol, heads colds, hay fever, can all change a person's sense of smell/taste.

What grading/rating is Hamilton's drinking water?

Hamilton's water is of a very high quality – it is rated with an Aa grade.

What is Council doing to minimise taste and odours issues?

In 2006 an extensive upgrade to the water treatment station was commissioned which included a granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration process step. This process is specifically aimed at the significant removal of taste and odour and other organic compounds originating from the river (algae and/or cyanobacteria). Like the rest of the treatment process, the CAG process operates continuously.

Regular flushing of water mains prevents the build up of sediment and any water that has not moved for a while.

Monitoring the quality of the reticulated water on a regular basis to ensure compliance with the New Zealand drinking water standards.

Ensuring all treatment plant and reticulation maintenance is kept up-to-date.

Matching water production with water usage.

Contact

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Return to main page 

Water and Waste Services
Level 6, Council Offices
Garden Place
Hamilton City Council
Private Bag 3010
Hamilton 3240
Phone: 838 6999
Fax: 838 6988

• Email