Council sets us straight: drinking water all clear

Waipa¯ District Council is setting the record straight following misinformation circulating around its wastewater treatment process.

Water services manager Martin Mould says following two positive Covid-19 test results in Te Awamutu’s wastewater, the district’s wastewater treatment process had been the subject of misinformation and rumours, undermining public confidence in the process.

He wants to make things crystal clear for concerned residents.

“There is no Covid-19 in the district’s drinking water.”

The recent positive Covid-19 wastewater results had no bearing on the district’s drinking water, Martin says.

“Waipa¯ District Council does not, at any point, re-introduce or re-use wastewater for the district’s drinkable water supply. This water, called potable water, does not interact with the district’s wastewater,” says Martin.

“Our drinking water comes from a number of sources including underground bores in Kihikihi and Te Awamutu, the Waikato River and from Pirongia’s Mangauika stream, and all are treated prior to reaching households.

“It is important to remember that the water we drink goes through a rigorous treatment process to ensure it is up to national public health standards prior to it being delivered to your homes.”

Martin says the treatment of wastewater was done separately, at an entirely different site, and was performed to regulated standards.

Council was alerted to the rumours when a member of the public phoned Council, saying they had been purchasing bottled water out of fear of the safety of public drinking water.

Martin says while he understood the concern, the public needed to have faith in the district’s water treatment system.