Havelock North residents hoping to stop boiling their water today have had their hopes dashed.

The update on the water boil notice was delivered right before last night's second public meeting over the water contamination crisis.

Hastings District Council CEO Ross McLeod said at Tuesday's meeting that people would likely be able to stop boiling their drinking water today, if testing allowed it.

However, it was a different message last night.

McLeod said under advice from the Ministry of Health, it will be three to four days more of boiled water for Havelock North.

Meanwhile, landlords in Havelock North are being told to pass on any rates relief from the contamination crisis on to their tenants.

One resident told the panel last night that renters are missing out on any financial relief because the council's $57 water rates discount goes straight to landlords.

Hastings District Council CEO Ross McLeod said it's a flaw in the system, and they have to rely on landlords doing the right thing.

"We are encouraging landlords to pass that on to their tenants, but we don't have a perfect distribution mechanism for getting that money directly to people in your situation."