Eye on councils over unchlorinated water
The Government’s newly established water regulator is ‘‘closely’’ watching Waimakariri and Christchurch as they continue to provide unchlorinated water.
Chlorine is now required in most drinking water supplies as part of new water safety regulations.
Exemptions are available, and Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn have all submitted applications.
The new water regulator, Taumata Arowai, has allowed both areas to continue to ‘‘manage the risks’’ of unchlorinated water while their exemption applications are assessed.
‘‘We will be watching their activities closely,’’ it said.
The decision means water supplies in Waimakariri and Christchurch that have traditionally been unchlorinated will stay that way for now.
In Christchurch, about 20% of the city – mostly people living in Harewood, Burwood and Brooklands – gets unchlorinated water.
Neighbouring Selwyn District has taken a different approach while it awaits the outcome of its exemption application. It will introduce temporary chlorination in some places.
The Selwyn District Council says 13 of its water supplies are under temporary chlorination, including Rakaia Huts and Springston, which are two supplies where the council has sought a chlorine exemption.
‘‘Taumata Arowai applauds this approach, which provides confidence that Selwyn residents will continue to receive safe drinking water,’’ Taumata Arowai chief executive Bill Bayfield said.
Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri were collectively seeking chlorine exemptions from 10 water supplies, Taumata Arowai said.
Waimakariri is seeking exemptions for water supplies in Cust, Oxford, Waikuku, Rangiora, Pegasus-Woodend, and Kaiapoi.
Christchurch’s exemption applies citywide.
Bayfield said suppliers had to plan and manage risks. They must also provide Taumata Arowai with ‘‘the assurance that they are providing safe drinking water’’.
Taumata Arowai would not give ‘‘the seal of approval’’ to suppliers – instead, they had to provide assurance that they were managing risks effectively, Bayfield said.
Taumata Arowai, which is a crown entity, has been established as part of the Government’s Three Waters reform programme.
Much of this reform work was born out of the 2016 Havelock North campylobacter outbreak incident, when the town’s drinking water supply was contaminated.
Nearly a third of the Havelock North population fell ill, and four people died.
The outbreak was likely caused by sheep faeces entering a stream near the town’s bores.