Council responds to Castlecliff water concerns
Published on 09 September 2026
Whanganui District Council says work is continuing around the clock to resolve water discolouration and sediment issues affecting parts of Castlecliff, while assuring residents that the water remains safe to drink.
Chief executive Doug Tate says the issue has understandably caused frustration for affected households and the council is focused on restoring normal service as quickly as possible.
"First and foremost, we want residents to know that ongoing testing shows the water remains safe to drink," says Doug Tate.
"We understand that seeing discoloured water or sediment coming from your taps is concerning and inconvenient. While our testing gives us confidence in the safety of the water, we also recognise that the service residents are receiving is currently below the standard they should expect."
The issue is believed to have originated when an older section of water main was brought back into service as part of the new Castlecliff water main project. Although the pipe was flushed and disinfected before commissioning, higher water flows appear to have disturbed sediment that remained within the line.
"The new water main is an important investment in Castlecliff's infrastructure and was commissioned in accordance with normal processes. However, it appears sediment within an older section of the network has been disturbed as a result of the higher flows.”.
"While this outcome was not anticipated, our focus right now is on resolving the issue for residents and understanding any lessons we can take from it."
Council crews continue to flush the affected parts of the network and carry out additional water quality monitoring. Affected areas are concentrated around Cornfoot Street, Manuka Street, Seafront Road and Taupata Street, although other nearby properties have also reported issues.
The council has also established a formal Incident Management Team to coordinate the response and has made two water tankers available for residents who would prefer an alternative supply while work continues.
"We understand some residents have chosen to purchase bottled water and we acknowledge that this has created inconvenience and additional cost for households," Doug Tate says.
"Our priority is on ensuring people continue to have access to safe drinking water while our teams work through the source of the problem."
The council is continuing to undertake testing throughout the affected area, and results to date continue to support the assessment that there is no current drinking water safety issue.
Residents experiencing discoloured water, sediment, grit, or ongoing pressure issues are encouraged to contact the council directly on 06 349 0001.
"Every report helps us build a clearer picture of where issues remain and where our crews need to focus their efforts," Mr Tate said.
"I want to thank residents for their patience and also acknowledge the significant effort being put in by our water crews, customer service staff and contractors as they work to resolve this issue as quickly as possible."
The council will continue to provide updates through its website, Facebook page and Antenno as further information becomes available.
Information on water tankers:
Water tankers are available for those experiencing ongoing water issues, including sand or sediment in your water.
Tonight, Wednesday 9 September, 4.00pm-7.00pm
Castlecliff Club
Access from Tennyson Street or Thatcher Street
Surf Club
Rangiora Street
Tomorrow, Thursday 10 September, 9.30am–7pm at the same locations
Please bring your own clean, manageable, food-grade containers to collect water.
Good options include:
• Reusable plastic jugs or bottles rated for food or beverages, with tight-fitting lids
• Clean, food-safe plastic buckets with lids
A reminder: the tanker water is being provided as an alternative option for drinking water for residents experiencing ongoing water issues, including sand or sediment. Current testing indicates the water supply remains safe to drink.