Low River Flows Affect Tap Water Taste & Odour

With no appreciable rain for some time river and stream flows around Ruapehu have dropped and Ruapehu District Council (RDC) has started receiving calls regarding drinking water taste and odour.

RDC Environment Manager, Anne Marie Westcott, said that with the start of summer it was common for council to receive calls concerning the change to the taste, odour and clarity of reticulated (tap) water.

“People on any of RDC’s reticulated (tap) water supply systems should be totally confident that their treated water is perfectly safe,” she said.

“All RDC reticulated (tap) water is chlorine treated which kills any micro-organisms making it 100% safe to drink.”

“Given the recent diesel contamination of the Raetihi water supply it is understandable that people may be more sensitive or cautious around changes to the clarity, odour or taste of their drinking water.”

“Although not ideal any slight taste, odour or murkiness issues in your tap water is not harmful.”

Ms Westcott added that the issues were caused by naturally occurring algae in the waterways that multiplied in warm weather when flows are low.

“In Raetihi’s case the alternative water supply we are using from the Makara Stream is smaller than the Makotuku River which was contaminated.”

“The ecology of the stream will affect the taste, odour and clarity of the water with the smaller size and slightly different characteristics of the Makara tending to amplify any effects,” she said.

Ms Westcott said that council and our water contractor Veolia are closely monitoring the flow levels of the Makara.

“Although the Makara is a smaller stream than the Makotuku it currently has enough flow to supply Raetihi.”

“Council and Veolia are currently working on some ideas to better monitor and control the Raetihi water supply to provide greater protection for the town’s water supply.”

Ms Westcott noted that another issue people need to be aware of is normal sickness in the community being wrongly linked to the potable (drinking) water supply.

“At any one time people can get ill with things such as rotavirus which is the leading cause of gastroenteritis in young children with symptoms such as diarrhea, dehydration and vomiting.”

“When people get sick they naturally look for a cause and in some local cases people with gastroenteritis have wrongly attributed their sickness to the water supply.”

Medical Officer of Health for the Waimarino, Dr Patrick O’Conner, said that rotavirus of which there had been recent cases is very common in children under five although adults could also catch it.

“There is no reason to believe that these cases have anything to do with the water supply,” he said.

“Ministry of Health statistics show that 90% of NZ children get a rotavirus by the age of three years.”

“The best defence is that people should ensure that they practice good personal hygiene and wash their hands regularly especially after going to the toilet or changing nappies.”

ends

© Scoop Media