Brown water blunder
A mistake at the water treatment plant is to blame for brown, foulsmelling water pouring from taps in a Rangitı¯kei town, but officials say it shouldn’t be making people sick.
Some Marton townsfolk are complaining on social media about rashes after taking a shower – or a burning sensation in their mouths and peeling lips after trying to choke down a mouldy tasting glass of water.
Brown water’s been a problem over the past week, after a miscalculation at the Marton water treatment plant. But the Rangitı¯kei District Council couldn’t find anything in the water that could be causing such severe reactions.
Marton resident Michael Gough said the discoloration and smell had been an off and on problem for decades. He’s fed up with it, from clothes coming out of the wash stained to frequent trips to collect bottled water.
Initially, Gough thought this time was more of the same – even when everyone in his family came down with a rash.
‘‘I thought something in our house was causing it. I didn’t think it might be the water, until I saw other complaints of rashes and blistering after showers on social media.’’
Aleesha Rubie said even after living in Marton for two years she still couldn’t believe how frequent the water problems were.
‘‘I’ve lived all across the country, and never had water like this.
‘‘It’s quite shocking after having clear tap water all my life.’’
Rubie had also broken out in a large rash down her back, which stung in the shower.
She suspects the water is inflaming her daughter’s eczema.
Council chief executive Ross Mcneil said the council was aware of people’s concerns, but hadn’t found anything in the water that could cause rashes or blisters. He understood complaints had also been made to Midcentral DHB’S medical officer of public health, who investigates potential health risks.
Meanwhile, the council will run a battery of additional tests to double check it hadn’t missed anything in the water, Mcneil said.
The new treatment regime has largely kept the water clear, but a recent misjudgment of the chlorine levels allowed the manganese into the mains, he said.