Resident Lyn Gordon contacted the Otago Daily Times and said she would have thought "the powers that be" would have stopped pumping water from the Omarama Stream into the supply's reservoir during the flood.
Residents received discoloured water because of flooding in the stream.
At this time of the year, residents did not need water for gardens, only for a domestic supply.
She was also critical that no "boil water" warning was broadcast to residents until Monday morning.
"I listened to Port FM, the only radio station Omarama receives, to see if there was a boiling notice," she said.
The radio station received a notice at at 11.30am on Monday.
"For the amount of rates we pay in Omarama, (and increasing by $250) we deserve better than this," she said.
The council's water assets manager Martin Pacey said yesterday the pumps could only be switched off for very short periods because of limited storage in the reservoir. While residents might need water only for domestic use, the council had to maintain storage, particularly for emergencies such as a fire.
The council sent a "boil water" notice to radio stations early on Sunday, but because they did not have local staff working, it was not broadcast until Monday.
Ahuriri Community Board members in Omarama did their best to "spread the word" at the weekend and council contractors monitored the supply.
Mr Pacey said the council had now found out how to get a special broadcast when radio staff were not available.
When the boil water notice was lifted, it would be advertised in newspapers and on radio, he said.
