The Geraldine water supply serves the township of Geraldine of around 3,000 people, 36km north and inland of Timaru.
Geraldine's water comes from a bore field on Orari Back Road, near the Orari River east of the township. There it is treated with ultraviolet light and chlorine at a treatment plant on site. The treatment plant is designed to meet the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards.
From the treatment plant, the water is pumped up to the reservoir in Talbot Forest just off Tripp Street, above the township. From there it is gravity-fed to households, so no pumping stations are needed. Some of this water, when required, is also used to top up the neighbouring Te Moana Rural Water Supply.
The network has around 25.5km of water mains. The Timaru District Council owns and maintains the supply network up to the connection at your street boundary.
Geraldine Water Supply Strategy
The Geraldine Water Headworks Resilience Strategy sets the direction for managing the source, delivery and treatment of water for Geraldine over the next 50 years. Developed by Timaru District Council with input from a dedicated Stakeholder Liaison Group, it ensures the township's water supply is planned with the community it serves.
Geraldine is a township of around 3,000 people, and a service centre for the surrounding farmland, 36km north and inland of Timaru. Like much of the district, it faces increasing pressure from climate change, extreme weather, and evolving drinking-water regulation. It also sits alongside the ecologically significant Talbot Forest, home to the critically endangered pekapeka tou-roa (long-tailed bat).
The Water Strategy is built around four community priorities of:
- Quality
- Biodiversity
- Resilience
- Partnership
and aims to ensure the Geraldine water supply scheme is:
- managed and operated sustainably;
- resilient and adaptable in the face of climate change; and
- able to meet shifting legislative requirements without adverse effects on consumers.
Intended as a living document, the document guides Council's investment and decision-making to deliver safe, reliable water for Geraldine now and for generations to come.
For any enquiries about the Geraldine water supply, contact the Geraldine Service Centre, Talbot Street, Geraldine, phone 03 693 9336
Last updated: 23 Jun 2026