Hastings District Council says it is confident the city's water supply is not infected with E coli.
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
A sample taken yesterday by the council came back positive for the E coli bacteria, but mayor Lawrence Yule told RNZ he was confident further tests would come back negative.
E coli is often tested for as an indicator that other, more harmful bacteria - such as campylobacter - could be infecting a water supply.
Meanwhile, the District Health Board (DHB) moved today to calm fears of a second wave of campylobacter illness.
Age Concern said earlier that some people recovering from the bug had experienced a re-emergence of symptoms.
But the board's acting medical officer of health, William Rainger, said cases of infection were dropping rapidly, and all illnesses caused by the contaminated water should be resolved within days.
Water tankers cleared
Water tankers will be parked in Havelock North tomorrow, after all of them tested clear over the weekend.
The tankers have been re-sterilised, re-tested and re-filled.
The tankers, from which the public can fill water containers, would be in the car parks of the ANZ Havelock North, Havelock North High School, Te Mata Primary School, Havelock North Primary School and Lucknow Primary schools.
Tankers were also going to the boarding schools in Havelock North: Hereworth School, Iona College, and Woodford House.
The chlorinated water was being provided to Havelock North residents as they were still under a boil water notice.
Water in Hastings is safe to drink without boiling because it has been chlorinated since Thursday as a precaution.