Council Working to Resolve Water Issue

A recent problem with the taste and odour of drinking water in New Plymouth is being worked on by New Plymouth District Council.

The water is safe to drink, but some users have noticed a distinct change says Manager Water and Wastes Brent Manning.

“Our source water has developed an odour that is noticeable at the intakes, and we have received a handful of complaints from residents in New Plymouth since last Friday,” says Mr Manning.

“We are working on fixing the problem now. In the meantime we want residents to know that while the water may taste a bit earthy and have a bit of a smell to it right now, there is no problem with drinking it.”

The recent Manaaki Wai upgrade at the New Plymouth Water Treatment Plant included the ability to dose with activated carbon to improve the taste of the district’s reticulated water.

“This provides a background dosing level to control taste and odour compounds at low levels, but the process needs to be significantly increased when taste and odour events such as this occur,” says Mr Manning.

“The challenge is in detecting those events, which results in a lag before dose rates are increased and the taste and odour issues are reduced.

“We should see improvements to the drinking water over the coming week.”