Brown tap water ‘safe to drink’

New Plymouth residents have reported brown water coming from their taps, which the council assures is safe to drink.

A ‘‘handful’’ of properties in Bell Block, Waitara and Lepperton have been affected by discoloured water, New Plymouth District Council external relations manager Jacqueline Baker said on Saturday.

‘‘CityCare our contractor has been out to a few of these properties to flush the water pipes,’’ she said. ‘‘The discoloured water has been treated and so it is safe to drink.’’

The cause was still being investigated but it was believed to be in relation to some recent work undertaken on the water network, Baker said.

‘‘We are just confirming that. ‘‘We are looking into why it has occurred.’’

Baker apologised for any inconvenience and encouraged residents experiencing brown water to phone the council and it would have CityCare attend their property.

Last Wednesday, NPDC sent a water tanker to Inglewood for residents experiencing discoloured drinking water.

A valve in the town’s water reticulation was turned off by contractors working on the pipe replacement project, cutting water to part of the town.

When it was reopened, the water stirred up gritty particles in the pipes.

Baker said the two issues were not connected.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health is advising people that ‘‘some plumbing fittings have the potential to allow minute traces of metals to accumulate in water standing in the fittings for several hours’’. ‘‘Although the health risk is small, the ministry recommends you flush a mug full of water from your drinking-water tap each morning before use to remove any metals that may have dissolved from the plumbing fittings,’’ the notice said.

‘‘The ministry is recommending this simple precaution for all households in New Zealand, including those on private water supplies.’’