Despite only 17 confirmed cases of cryptosporidium in Queenstown, many residents have become ill or know others who have in recent weeks.
Checkpoint has spoken to many locals who have had sore tummies or become very well acquainted with their toilet, but have not been to the doctor.
A boil water notice remains in place for the area due to the parasitic illness, although authorities are yet to confirm whether it is indeed the water supply that is making people sick.
"Not everyone's gonna go to a doctor and get tested" - Queenstown resident scott
It is causing huge disruption for businesses which cannot use tap water for things like cleaning, coffee machines, and ice, not to mention the staff who are staying home sick.
"It's affecting everyone, I went to the tattoo shop yesterday they used the water bottle and stuff to fill everything," one person said.
Many people were stocking up on bottled water and ice, leaving some supermarket shelves bare. One man told RNZ his local Countdown had already run out of bottled water.
Rhino's Ski Shack venue manager Brendon Claessen said they had had a wave of staff illness recently.
"I have some staff who have been sick for the last week, like literally the last seven days.
"At the moment it's fine because we have a lot of staff here but in a week or two it's gonna be quite a challenge."
The city is full of tourists. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
The bar usually makes up their own soft drinks but they were now desperately sourcing alternatives from suppliers as well as ice for cold drinks.
Claessen said it had been difficult to get their hands on enough stock.
"So we have to buy everything from suppliers, shops around town which starts to get like a bit of [a] problem to supply for everyone because all the restaurants, all the bars need that."
The bar has now implemented a process for cooking and serving food with boiling water. In the morning their chef boils a big pot of water to be used to wash hands, clean dishes and serve to customers.
Claessen said he only found out about the outbreak on Tuesday, which he blamed on the council's late messaging.
So far there have been 17 cases of cryptosporidium confirmed in the Queenstown area. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Queenstown Ice supplies the town's three ice bars with all things ice, including carving ice, ice glasses and ice sculptures. After dumping their affected ice following the boil water notice, owner Richard Scott said he managed to source a UV filter from town. It cost about $3000.
Needless to say, his services were in huge demand today.
"I would say probably 30 businesses today and that there will be just minimal like 10 bags each or something just to get them going and then there'll be more going out this evening."
Like many locals Checkpoint has spoken to Scott said he came down with a gastro illness on Monday last week and was away from work for four days.
"Who knows what I heard, it could have been the same thing or something different, but I mean, not everyone's gonna go to a doctor and get tested."
Tony Avery urged people to boil their water for at least one minute. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Queenstown Lake District Council infrastructure general manager Tony Avery accepted that more than 17 people were ill. The council is working with Public Health Southland and water regulator Taumata Arowai to determine next steps.
"If we get ongoing confirmed cryptosporidium cases that will be tell us about what we need to carry on and do, so we're still waiting and it is still evolving as each day goes by."
Avery urged people to continue to boil their water for at least one minute, and to thoroughly wash their hands with soap and dry them.
"Boiling the water does make the water safe to drink, so we don't have, we don't have a shortage of water supply, we don't have a contamination issue that can't be treated by that."
For now water straight from the tap is off the menu for the foreseeable, one woman told Checkpoint they had just been sticking to wine.