The tankers supplying water to Havelock North are being refilled this weekend.
The Hastings District Council said in a statement that this would involve them being removed from their sites at 4pm this afternoonfor re-sterilisation and refilling from a secure source, under the observation of Hawke's Bay District Health Board staff. They will then be tested.
Those test results will have to be received and be clear before the tankers are returned to Havelock North.
Over the weekend, residents will need to rely on boiling water from the town supply.
Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule says ":safety has to be at the top of the list and I am in agreement that we do not deploy new fills of water back into the community without a complete lot of tests being run".