Fix our water system: mayor

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton says flooding and inundation should be considered in the Government’s Three Waters review, along with drinking, waste, and storm water.

In 2010, Civil Defence said flooding could cause substantial damage to public and private property and was a threat to the safety of Kiwis living in low-lying coastal areas.

The Government launched the Three Waters review following the 2016 campylobacter outbreak in Havelock North, which left 5000 people sick, and was blamed for the deaths of four residents.

A subsequent inquiry into the outbreak found up to 100,000 Kiwis were getting sick from drinking water every year.

Dalton said the Government needed to bite the bullet and replace the whole water system.

‘‘New Zealand has fallen behind international standards on the delivery of Three Waters’’, he said.

The Government is now looking to overseas to figure out how to fix its ‘‘system-wide’’ water issues – a move that Dalton has welcomed.

Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta will visit Ireland, Scotland and England over the coming week to see how their water systems are run.

New Zealand’s water systems are currently owned and controlled by local government.

Mahuta said public ownership of existing infrastructure would remain, regardless of reforms. However, she had not ruled out the possibility of central government taking control.

Meeting the national recommendations of the Havelock North inquiry could cost up to $567 million, Mahuta said.

The Three Waters Review suggested upgrading waste water infrastructure will cost a great deal more.

‘‘New Zealand has a systemwide problem that will need a system-wide, collaborative solution,’’ Mahuta said.

Figures released last week show one in five New Zealanders are drinking water from supplies that don’t meet current standards.

Scotland and Ireland both have a publicly owned authority providing drinking and waste water.

England has multiple authorities.

Mahuta will also talk to a local London council, government departments and their ministers.

The Government is also amending the country’s Health Act to allow for improvements in the safety of drinking water.

Health Minister David Clark said the legislative groundwork needed to be put in place before the Havelock North inquiry changes were made.

‘‘New Zealand has fallen behind international standards on the delivery of Three Waters.’’ Napier Mayor Bill Dalton