Water tanks have been deployed to Methven while the town is under a boil water notice because of Tuesday’s heavy rain event.

A 10,000-litre water tanker will be located at the Methven Medical Centre and smaller water tanks are at Methven House and two childcare centres. People can bring their own containers to access clean, safe drinking water.

Infrastructure Services Group Manager Neil McCann said a roaming tanker would also be visiting businesses and cafes in the town to refill water containers.

“Council recognises that it’s harder for local businesses to operate under the boil water notice and we want to support them. The roaming tanker will check in on them daily until the boil water notice is lifted.”

The precautionary boil water notice was issued for the Methven township’s water supply last night, as a result of the poor weather causing high turbidity in the scheme.

Residents connected to the scheme are advised to boil their drinking water, water used in food preparation and for hygiene purposes for at least one minute before consumption.

Council staff are monitoring turbidity levels in the supply and will advise when the boil water notice is lifted. The notice can only be lifted after three consecutive days of compliance with national water testing regulations, which are set by Government.

Methven’s water supply is being upgraded over the next year, with new reservoir tanks for storage and a new membrane treatment plant that will filter water to a much higher degree, even in very poor weather conditions.

Residents and businesses connected to the scheme are encouraged to sign up to the Council's text alert service by texting their postcode to 4196, to be notified when boil water notices are issued and lifted.