Malcolm Berry normally sources his hydration straight from the tap - that was until last week when the water began to smell like sewage.
"I tried to drink it because I thought it has got to be clean but after three mouthfuls I was gagging," the Wallsend resident said.
He told the Newcastle Herald on Monday that while the odour had subsided since last week it was still detectable.
"I have done a lot of plumbing work and it definitely smells like sewage," he said.
"I don't think we should have to pay for it if we can't drink it."
Mr Berry is not alone in his criticism of the Lower Hunter's drinking water. A Mayfield resident also told the Herald that the quality of his drinking water had been "hit and miss" in recent times.
A Hunter Water spokesman said the utility was aware that some customers had experienced recent changes to the taste and colour of tap water, however, it remained safe to drink.
It seems water sourced from the Tomago sandbeds is responsible for the quality issues.
Hunter Water is currently accessing groundwater as part of its maintenance program.
"We do this periodically to make sure our borefield infrastructure is ready when needed for our customers and community. The groundwater is treated at the Grahamstown Water Treatment Plant along with water sourced from Grahamstown Dam. The treated water is supplied to most of our customers including those in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Cessnock and Port Stephens," the spokesman said.
The sandbeds, which comprise a 109 square kilometre catchment, are normally used as a back-up water supply that can provide 20 per cent of the Lower Hunter's drinking water during times of shortfall.
Water from the sandbeds contains naturally higher levels of minerals, including iron and manganese, which can result in a change in colour, taste and smell.
While the minerals can affect the taste, odour and appearance of drinking water, they do not represent a health risk.
The spokesman said Hunter Water aimed to minimise the effects through optimisation of treatment barriers at the Grahamstown water treatment plant.
"We blend the treated water from the sandbeds with treated water from Grahamstown Dam which provides some dilution of the minerals," he said.
"Hunter Water is extremely rigorous in the way we test the water to make sure it is safe for drinking. We routinely monitor the water at the borefields, then as it arrives at the treatment plant and again before it goes to our customers' homes. This testing confirms our drinking water is safe, and we make these results publicly available on our website."
Groundwater from the borefields is also regularly tested for PFAS.
The spokesman said there had never been a PFAS detection above the Australian Drinking Water Guideline health limits.
Despite that, pump stations near the Williamtown RAAF base remain isolated from the network and are not used for supply.
Hunter Water plans to operate the borefields for about six weeks until September 7.
"This is to ensure the system is in optimal condition and so we are ready to use what is the region's third water source, after Grahamstown and Chichester Dams, in a future drought," the spokesman said.
The Department of Health regulates the operation of the Lower Hunter water supply system and reviews water quality results to ensure the safety of drinking water.
