Testing Allows Precautionary Boil Water Notice to Be Lifted

Testing has shown that water from the Taumarunui Water Plant meets national health standards allowing the precautionary ‘boil drinking water notice’ that was in place over the weekend to be lifted.

Ruapehu District Council (RDC) Chief Executive, Peter Till, said that the failure of filters at the final stage of the treatment process required council to issue the boil water notice as precautionary step.

“It is important to note that disinfection of the water at the treatment plant has continued as per normal,” he said.

“The faulty filters were slowing down the amount of water that the plant could produce and with the impending arrival of Cyclone Lusi the decision was made to take the faulty filters off-line.”

“This allowed the plant to fill the reservoirs before the anticipated bad weather hit and we were potentially hampered in our ability to make water due to the Whanganui River being in flood.”

“Although the water was still being disinfected the precautionary boil drinking water notice needed to be issued under the Health Act which requires us to do so any time we change the audited treatment process at the water plant.”

Mr Till said that although removing the final stage filters does not affect water safety people may notice a change in its taste and odour.

“The filters are part of the carbon dosing stage of the water treatment which improves the water’s taste and odour especially over the summer months.”

“Council and our contractor Veoila Water are working on obtaining replacement parts for the filter which are very specialized.”

“Unfortunately the agent for the American company that originally supplied the filtration equipment is no longer in business which means it may be some months before the filters are repaired and back on-line,” he said.

Mr Till added that in the interim people should make contingency plans in case the precautionary ‘boil drinking water notice’ needs to be reinstated.

“This is especially important for schools and businesses that rely on water to stay open.”

“Council will be updating its website and local media about the situation and any changes as they occur.”

“We have an email contact list of schools and others who need to know quickly if the situation changes and a precautionary ‘boil drinking water notice’ is reinstated,” he said.

“If anyone wants to be added to be added to this email alert list that will be in-place until the filters are repaired they should either contact council (07 895 8188) or email; info@ruapehudc.govt.nz with water alter in the email subject line.”

ENDS

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