Timaru is standing up for New Zealand against Australia - in the hunt for the best-tasting tap water

Our Water Industry Operations Group has crowned Timaru the nation's champion for the third time - sending into the transtasman competition.

Criteria include colour, clarity, odour and taste - when imbibed at room temperature.

Chair Joshua McIndoe says they're trying to change the narrative for Three Waters.

He says there's a lot of negativity in the industry but this competition highlights the work going on delivering deliver clean, safe drinking water to the public, 24/7.