Kerrie and Kristine Hooper have owned property in Henley Rd, beside the Taieri River, for 20 years and have never seen things so wet.
Ironically, they are now out of water as the couple's 3000-litre tank was destroyed when a landslip moved it off its perch and into their backyard.
Mr Hooper said they were unsure whether to stick it out, or move.
''She [the water] was real close.
''We are tossing up whether to sell everything and [shift].''
This is not the first time the Hoopers have been affected by the river. In 2010, they claimed heavily from their insurance company.
Mr Hooper said this time was worse. They had never experienced a landslip and were both afraid it could happen again.
''I got to the point where I just sat on my deck with the dogs and just waited.''
The river reached its peak on Tuesday night at 1186cumecs, just below the 2010 flood peak of 1200cumecs. Yesterday, it sat at 265cumecs.
The restored cottage dates back to the 1800s and Mrs Hooper had plans to create a crafts store in one of the other buildings on their property.
''My wife is gut-wrenched.''
Mr Hooper said he loved the location so much that if he won Lotto, he would place the existing cottage on an island to avoid any future flooding, rather than move.
He had approached the Dunedin City Council about building culverts to stop his property flooding. He was willing to help pay for them, but he believed the council had been too slow to act.
''I offered to spend three, four, five grand doing it. But all I get back is 'we'll need meetings and will get back to you'.
''I don't want to spend money if they are going to come back and say you can't do that.''
Mr Hooper, who was insured, was now keeping a watchful eye on his two dogs, his 50 chickens and his pet pig George, which all sought refuge from the floodwater in the hills above the house.
