Ministry of Health (MoH) Annual Review of Drinking Water Quality in New Zealand 2007/08

The Waitaki District Council welcomes and encourages open discussion on the quality of water supplied by Council supplies to its customers.

It is, of course, important that the information provided is accurate and balanced. Unfortunately, a somewhat distorted view of Waitaki District Council handling of corrective action procedures has been portrayed.

Waitaki District has been criticised over the supposed lack of corrective action in response to bacterial contamination events. This is absolutely refuted.

By referencing the MoH report it can readily be determined that the identified supplies comprise four community supplies and three lake side camping areas, all of which are un-treated.

Councils approach to these un-treated supplies is, and has been for many years and in consultation with the communities involved, the placing of a permanent boil water requirement. Indeed, Council is presently producing the annual reminder to customers on the community supplies of the need to boil the water.

This will not be a permanent solution as the enacting of the Health (Drinking Water) Amendment Act requires that the community supplies be treated. This will be achieved within the timeframes allowed within the Act.

It appears that the authors of the MoH Annual Review may not have been aware of the permanent boil water requirement, and incorrectly concluded that no corrective action was being undertaken.

Council will reiterate this position with MoH to avoid a repeat of this reporting error.
Waitaki District Council CEO Mr Michael Ross stated that the upgrading of the 21 council community water supplies is programmed to be carried out over the coming seven years at a total cost of some $10M.

“Additional to the corrective action issue, I also want to highlight the excellent quality of the Oamaru Water Supply following the $12.7M upgrading completed two years ago. The Oamaru supply has been graded by the MoH as Aa, the highest possible for a supply without ISO accreditation. Our Council is doing all it can to protect public health – within the confines of both the legislation and the ratepayers appetite for capital expenditure”.