A decision has been made today to supply Havelock North’s water from the Hastings’ water system for the foreseeable future.

The opening of a connection between the two supplies will be managed over the next few days to ensure any contaminated water cannot get into the Hastings pipe system.

An extensive programme of flushing will be required across the Havelock North pipe system. The details of this work will be part of the water plan submitted to the Ministry of Health for approval.

The boil water notice in Havelock North will be lifted once the process is complete.

Putting Hastings water into the Havelock North system will allow the Brookvale bores to be turned off.

Chlorination of the Hastings supply will continue; required by the Ministry of Health under its NZ Drinking Standards because of the return of a ‘positive indicator’ result on Saturday. The requirement is to continue chlorinating is for at least three months.

Chief executive Ross McLeod also said today (August 23) that in the medium term there would need to be a “whole of community conversation about the trade-off between the desire for natural untreated water and the risk of contamination and illness arising from not treating the water.

“In addition to groundwater contamination, broken water mains and other repairs can also create.

“As I have said, we need to do everything we can to make the water safe now; and then talk about what we do next.”

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