The boil water order for the Greater Darwin region has been lifted, with NT Health confirming test results show the water is free from “any harmful bacteria”, but a boil water alert will remain for Katherine and Jilkminggan.

The boil water order lifting comes a day after Power and Water advised Darwin residents they no longer had to conserve water, following a second pump at the Darwin River Dam pump station being temporarily brought back online with a generator yesterday afternoon.

The order was issued after all four pumps at the station shut down following flash flooding in the area on Monday. Power and Water brought two rural area bores online to help meet demand, but those bores were near septic tanks, which triggered the precautionary boil water advisory.

Chief health officer Paul Burgess said the water could be discoloured in the coming days due to the heavy rains, but said test results returned on Thursday showed no traces of E. Coli and that “water in these areas is safe to drink and boiling is no longer required”.

However, a boil order will remain in place for Katherine following flooding of the town over the weekend, with Power and Water currently “undertaking repairs to the sewerage, which may impact water quality”, NT Health said.

“Once repairs are complete and water quality testing indicates the water is safe to drink, the boil water alert may be cancelled shortly after,” a statement said.

“If any harmful bacteria is detected, including the presence of E. coli, additional testing will be required. New samples will need to be collected and analysed, which would take up to 24 hours to complete.

“Public health safety remains the priority, and the alert will only be lifted when the Chief Health Officer is confident the water supply is safe to drink.”

Katherine residents are being told to boil tap water before drinking, cooking, brushing their teeth or preparing food.

Meanwhile, heavy rains and flooding in the Big Rivers Region may have impacted water quality, with the CHO ordering a boil water alert for Jilkminggan, effective immediately.

“The boil water alert will remain in place until water quality test results indicate water is safe to drink,” the NT Health statement said.

“Community updates will continue to be provided.

“For up-to-date emergency alerts and warnings, follow SecureNT or visit securent.nt.gov.au.”