Published 6/03/2026
Wellington Water monitoring fluoride levels in network
The Te Mārua, Gear Island, and Wainuiomata Water Treatment Plants went temporarily offline for five hours today as a precaution after discolouration in a fluoride treatment chemical was identified.
As a safety step, all treatment facilities were shut down while the network was assessed. This included precautionary draining of some of the bulk water system.
Further analysis and assessment have confirmed there was no risk to the drinking water supply.
Normal fluoride dosing operations will resume when final analysis of the product confirms it is within supplier specifications. Wellington Water will continue to monitor the network as part of routine practice.
Taumata Arowai, Regional Public Health and the Wellington metropolitan councils have been notified.
Editor notes
Wellington Water is owned and fully funded by Wellington City Council, Hutt City Council, Porirua City Council, and Upper Hutt City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council and South Wairarapa District Council. All six councils are equal shareholders.
Our councils own the water infrastructure in the region, and they task us to manage the infrastructure and deliver water services to our communities.
Wellington Water is governed by a Board of Directors. The Board and our organisation receive overall leadership and direction from the Wellington Water Committee, which are also responsible for appointing members to the Board.
The Wellington Water Committee is made up of representatives from our council owners and mana whenua.