Tākaka water samples breach drinking standard at three sites
Residents of some Tākaka streets are being asked to avoid drinking water after positive samples were returned from ongoing monitoring after the ITM building fire in January.
In a statement yesterday, the Tasman District Council said positive results from three sites had been returned following sampling on January 22.
The sites were in Factory Rd, which is outside the initial area of concern, as well as two properties on Motupipi St within the original zone.
“We identified a number of houses and workplaces in Motupipi St that use bore water that could have been potentially contaminated by run-off from firefighting at the ITM building site on Thursday, 11 January.
“These occupiers have been contacted by council staff,” the council said.
Bore water testing has been occurring since January 11, when the ITM store was destroyed in a blaze and there were concerns that water run-off from the fighting effort may have been contaminated and polluted the water supply.
While initial sampling in the days after the fire appeared to lessen the threat, more indepth sampling took place on January 22, with water sampled for: BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes), heavy metals, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, total petroleum hydrocarbons, arsenic, boron, cadmium, copper, lead, manganese and mercury.
All the samples were compliant with the drinking water standards, except for three sample sites that were found to have levels of dichloromethane higher than the drinking water standard.
“Therefore, our advice to refrain from drinking the water remains in place for the existing zone as well as the rest of Motupipi St, Factory Rd and the first section of Abel Tasman Drive (to Scotts Corner),” the council said.
Dichloromethane (also known as methylene chloride) is a solvent widely used in chemical research, manufacturing, and cleaning agents.
“We are working with the laboratory, public health experts and environmental scientists to locate the source of dichloromethane.
“While this positive test result is yet to be linked to the run-off from firefighting at the ITM building site on Thursday, 11 January, we are taking necessary precautions to ensure that the health of the community is not put in jeopardy,” the council said.
“We will continue to test water in the area and will update the community as more information can be provided.”