Boil water notice continues

Dunedin (Wednesday, 16 August 2017) – A boil water notice remains in place for the CBD, Woodhaugh, Leith Valley and the tertiary precinct. At this stage there have been no notified cases of illness related to water.

Public Health South had received no notification of cases considered to be related to water quality in the Dunedin area as at lunchtime today, but it is still early days.

Dunedin City Council Chief Executive Sue Bidrose says the focus remains on informing and supporting affected residents and businesses as a boil water notice for parts of the city continues.

Information was hand-delivered to the 1720 residential properties and 825 commercial properties in the area affected by the boil water notice today.

Three days of clear test results are needed before the boil water notice can be lifted. The earliest the notice will be lifted is Friday afternoon.

The first test results from water samples taken across the affected area yesterday are expected late this afternoon. These tests measured the quality of the water at the time the samples were taken and will indicate the state of drinking water after the flushing of the system started. Test results for the quality of water sampled from the dam are expected tomorrow. These results will indicate the types and concentrations of bacteria and parasites that may have been released. All test results will be released to the public.

Dr Bidrose says DCC business advisors and environmental health officers are available to help with advice about business continuity, and food preparation and safety. Concerned businesses should call 03 477 4000 for further advice. Information is also available at www.dunedin.govt.nz/boil-water-notice.

Drinking water is available from water tankers at various locations around the city. At this stage, 18,000 to 20,000 litres of water have been taken.

Under the DCC Water Bylaw 2011, the DCC is not liable for water quality issues or interruptions to water supply, so is not able to consider claims for compensation. Our advice to those affected is to contact their insurer.

The DCC intends to set up a fund to provide discretionary grants for people and small businesses where hardship has occurred because of this week’s water quality issue. Details of how the fund will work, such as application criteria and grant limit, will be worked out over coming days.

Untreated water entered the treated water supply on Monday afternoon when the water level in the Ross Creek reservoir was lowered to help with work. DCC plans and maps didn’t show a connection into the treated water supply so a valve was turned on to empty water from the dam. However, this has been proven to be incorrect, resulting in untreated water entering the treated supply.

Staff acted immediately when this was identified on Tuesday morning, closing the valve and flushing the affected water pipes. The network in the affected area has been flushed with twice its volume of treated water. Today’s focus has been on flushing the dead ends of the network after the main pipelines were cleared yesterday. Best practice is to flush with three times the volume of the pipes, so the network will be flushed again tomorrow. The DCC is receiving advice from an international drinking water quality expert, Dr Colin Fricker.

Boil water notice

All residents and businesses in the following areas are advised to boil all drinking water until further notice. This is due to an issue with water quality and is isolated to the north end of the city. The notice applies to the CBD, Leith Valley, Woodhaugh and the tertiary precinct. A map of the affected area is available at www.dunedin.govt.nz/boil-water-notice.

· Tap water in affected areas must not be used for drinking, making up baby formula and juices, making ice, washing fruits and vegetables, or brushing teeth.

· Please boil ALL drinking water before use. Zips do not boil water sufficiently. Water needs to be through a rolling boil for at least one minute and filtered water should also be boiled for at least one minute.

· If you’re in an affected area, please flush run your taps for 10-15 minutes if you haven’t already done so. This will flush the water and will help with the cleaning process.

· If you have a hot water cylinder, please empty it if you haven’t already done so – it can then be refilled with clean water.

· If you are in an affected area and have water that you have drawn from the tap since Monday morning, please tip it out and do not drink it.

· As a precaution, please use hand sanitiser after washing your hands. Care should be taken with bathing and showering so that water is not swallowed.

Water tankers

Eight water tankers are available for businesses and the public. People wanting to collect water should bring their own containers. These should not be rinsed with tap water before being used to store clean water.

· The Octagon (available throughout the night)

· Corner Dundas Street and Montgomery Avenue (available until 10pm tonight, returns 6am tomorrow)

· Outside Otago Museum (main entrance) (available until 10pm tonight, returns 6am tomorrow)

· Outside George Street Normal School (available until 10pm tonight, returns 6am tomorrow)

· Outside the Oval BP forecourt (available until 10pm tonight, returns 6am tomorrow)

· Outside Hunters Furniture, Cumberland Street (available until 10pm tonight, returns 6am tomorrow)

· Outside Emerson’s Brewery, Anzac Avenue (available until 10pm tonight, returns 6am tomorrow)

· Logan Park High School car park, Butts Road (available until 10pm tonight, returns 6am tomorrow)

More information, including a map of the affected area, is available at www.dunedin.govt.nz/boil-water-notice.

Updates and information are also available at www.facebook.com/DunedinCityCouncil.

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