Waikouaiti resident calls for external review

A FULL investigation is needed into the way officials responded to lead contamination of Otago water supplies, a Waikouaiti resident and former health and safety specialist says.

Clive Doubleday said he would not be satisfied with an internal review by the Dunedin City Council.

‘‘I want an external review,’’ he said.

‘‘I want a full investigation.’’ Waikouaiti, Karitane and Hawksbury residents have been urged not to drink tap water since last Tuesday, after an elevated level of lead was detected at the Waikouaiti raw water reservoir last month.

However, problems were apparent much earlier and a spike last year when a lead reading was 40 times the level considered acceptable did not prompt the council or health authorities to warn the public.

Lead’s effect on children can include inhibited development and adults can suffer from symptoms such as memory impairment and tiredness.

However, water sampling has so far suggested only intermittent or oneoff spikes in lead levels and free blood tests at the East Otago Events Centre in Waikouaiti from today are expected to help officials establish whether there has been chronic exposure to lead.

Six water samples at Waikouaiti and Karitane since late July have shown elevated lead levels and the most recent results have come back clear.

The source of the lead contamination has yet to be determined.

At a public meeting in Waikouaiti on Friday night, Mr Doubleday suggested WorkSafe should investigate officials’ handling of the problem.

In response, Dunedin City Council infrastructure services general manager Simon Drew indicated WorkSafe could be notified.

Both Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins and city council chief executive Sandy Graham had said there would be a review.

The nature of that review has yet to be confirmed.

Blunders by the city council have included an email being left unopened for weeks while a staff member was on leave and the council publicly understating the severity of a high lead reading from a December 8 sample.

Blood testing at the events centre is due to start at 2pm today.

Children will have priority today and tomorrow.

Free fruit and vegetables will also be made available at the centre and the city council has been supplying water through tankers.

Mr Doubleday, now retired, said he would be getting a blood test this week.

The presence of heavy metals in drinking water could go back to before the council carried out tests from July, he said.

‘‘How long has this been going on for? We don’t know.’’

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said last week the situation was unacceptable.

Associate Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall is due to be briefed by officials today.