Kaeo water is ‘‘unacceptable’’
A Far North business owner who installed his own water tank to provide safe drinking water says the public scheme should be abandoned.
For two years Kaeo’s public town supply, which has 72 customers, has been deemed undrinkable, unless boiled first. A boil-water notice was issued by the Northland District Health Board in July 2015 due to a detection of E.coli bacteria in the supply, a lack of treatment processes and other issues.
Business owner John Owens says problems have continued over the 12 years he has owned his service station in Kaeo. After an independent water test showed high levels of chemicals, bromide and manganese, he installed his own tank to ensure customers had safe water to drink.
‘‘I would get them to abandon the public scheme and look at another initiative where water is subsidised for residents.’’
Local trust Wai Care have come to own the supply, after it was first given to a private company in 2000 by the Far North District Council. Wai Care refused to comment to for this story.
A NDHB spokeswoman says the production of safe drinking water is the responsibility of the supplier, which includes their investment in upgrading treatment processes.
‘‘The DHB or health protection officer cannot enforce the supply be taken over by a new supplier. The improvements required to upgrade the water supply require additional investment funds. Subsidy funding is no longer available from the Ministry of Health.’’
The Kaeo water supplier has been taking all practicable steps to improve the supply, she says, and until the DHB is satisfied the treatment processes are sufficient, the boil water notice will remain in place.
Kaeo resident Alistair Kay says the health board need to step in and take control. ’’In 2017 it’s unacceptable that people cannot get clean drinking water - it’s a basic human right and the fact it’s gone on for so long is totally unacceptable.’’
Far North mayor John Carter says he has made contact with Wai Care several times.
‘‘If control of the supply was offered [back to council], the council would give consideration alongside the community, the runanga, and the regional council as to what the next step would be.’’