Cloudy Water

At times during the year, your tap water may appear cloudy or milky.  This is not a health concern. 

Cloudy water is usually caused by dissolved air which is released in the form of fine air bubbles when cold water becomes warmer or where there has been maintenance work done on the water main close to your property and air is trapped in the main.

These air bubbles give the water its cloudy appearance.

To confirm this, fill a glass with cold water allow it to stand.  You should notice the air bubbles disappear and clear from the bottom of the glass upwards.

If the problem persists, please contact Council on 07 577 7000.

Bad Taste / Smell

The City of Tauranga draws its water from two different surface water sources.  The Oropi Water Treatment Plant draws its water from Waiorohi river whilst Joyce Road Water Treatment Plant draws its water from the Tautau river.

Seasonally both sources have a natural, slightly "musty" odour which is caused by the growth of plants and algae in the river.  The purification process removes most of the natural odour and is rarely detected in cold water.  It may be noticeable in warmer water, especially to visitors accustomed to the taste and odour of their own drinking water.

If you are sensitive to this taste/odour, try keeping a jug of fresh, cold, tap water in the refrigerator for drinking and cooking. Carbon filters can also be used to remove taste/odour, but must be carefully maintained.

If you notice a "swampy" or "sulphur" odour when using the bathroom faucets, it is likely caused by decaying hair, dirt or debris that are caught in the drain and releasing an odour when you run your water.  To confirm this, fill a glass with cold water and take it immediately to another room in the house.  If the water is odourless, the odour is coming from your drain.  To correct the problem, pour a small amount of bleach down the drain.  Wait a few minutes then run your cold water tap for a minute to flush the drain.

Rusty Coloured Drinking Water

Fire hydrant flushing and water main flushing or repairs can disturb sediment in the water mains resulting in orange or brown coloured tap water. Water main and hydrant flushing is necessary to ensure adequate supply and pressure for the fire protection system.

This coloured water is not a health concern and can usually be corrected by turning on all the taps in your home for approximately 10 minutes to flush any sediment out of the system.

If you notice coloured water when you turn on your hot water taps, you will probably need to drain the sediment at the bottom of your hot water tank.

To do this, close the cold supply to the cylinder,and close the valve immediately under the cylinder, attaching a garden hose to the Hot Water cylinders drain, opening the valve under the cylinder and allow the tank to empty into a container for about a minute or until the water is clear. Repeat this procedure monthly to prevent further build-up of the sediment. TAke care as the water could still be hot.

If you are not confident, or are uncomfortable with this procedure, contact a Licensed Plumber.

Chlorine Taste / Smell

Chlorine is used in Tauranga to disinfect the drinking water supplies. It is a strong oxidant that kills bacteria and viruses that are harmful to human health. Chlorine residual is necessary in the water distribution system to ensure the safety of the water to the furthest point in the system.

Chlorine smell generated from water coming out from your household tap can, or may be, caused by chlorine reacting with organics in the water system. This typically occurs in winter and this is largely related to high rain fall events which introduce organics in to the water source.

If you are sensitive to this taste/odour, try keeping a jug of fresh, cold tap, water for drinking and cooking in the refrigerator with the lid off. This should reduce the chlorine taste and odour.

Carbon filters can also be used to remove chlorine taste and odour, but must be carefully maintained, according to manufacturers requirements.