And "not a drop to drink" applies to the Tokarahi water scheme - about half of whose consumers lost their supply when a pipe was cut by the swollen Awamoko Stream about six days ago - and maybe to some other rural water schemes that have had pumps turned off again to keep out dirty water.
Since the first heavy rain event on July 31-August 1, another three have hit North Otago, including one a week ago that brought falls of up to 120mm in coastal North Otago.
Rain started again on Sunday and continued yesterday before easing off later in the day. While the falls up to 67mm until 4pm yesterday would not normally have resulted in a warning, the saturated soil meant they caused more flooding and closed roads.
The Waitaki District Council, which last week estimated flood damage at between $500,000 and $1 million, was making progress on repairing flood-damaged roads. Yesterday at 3pm 35 roads were again listed closed, including some the council had just managed to reopen.
Due to the extensive flooding, Waitaki Civil Defence was again urging all rural residents to avoid any non-essential travel and keep heavy traffic vehicle movement to a minimum.
"There are extensive road closures and roads under caution in the district," Mr Raine said.
Closures and cautions were being updated regularly on the council website.
State Highway 1 had surface flooding just north of Oamaru, and south at Waianakarua and just north of Hampden.
State Highway 83 had surface water between Papakaio and Duntroon.
The Windsor, Herbert-Waianakarua, Kauru Hill and Hampden-Moeraki rural water schemes had been turned off to avoid contaminating infrastructure and consumers were urged to conserve water.
Other schemes had "boil water notices".
A tanker was available to supply domestic water only to Tokarahi scheme consumers or others who needed it.
The rain was predicted to ease overnight. A southwest front was due through later today, but it was not expected to cause further problems.
"We may have had half the amount of rain [compared with last week], but it has caused runoff and ponding in areas where some people have never seen it before," Mr Raine said.
Late yesterday afternoon, no calls had been received for assistance from people affected by road closures.
People isolated and concerned they would need need assistance should contact 434-6400 or 433-0300.
Farmers could contact the Otago Rural Support Trust on 0800-787-254.
