Published on 26 September 2023
Waitaki District Council has prioritised significant investments in upgrading water supply infrastructure across the district and as a result the following supplies have appropriate protozoa barriers in place and are at a lower risk of cryptosporidium contamination:
However, within the Waitaki District there are eight supplies with no current protozoa barrier, and the Ōmārama supply which is currently being upgraded to have cartridge filters and UV protozoa barriers
The above information shows that 91% of registered Waitaki water supply consumers receive water that is at low risk of cryptosporidium (and other protozoa) contamination.
Of the eight supplies yet to be upgraded, assessments for water supply upgrades have been completed for three; Stoneburn, Bushy Creek and Ohau Alpine Village. The findings of the Stoneburn and Bushy Creek assessments will be discussed by Council in due course.
All remaining non-upgraded supplies are currently managed by external parties as indicated in the table.
Mayor Gary Kircher says, “The Waitaki District Council has had a strong focus on upgrading its water supplies since the early 2000’s when we upgraded the Ōamaru supply. Since then, there has been a significant investment to bring most of our supplies up to the required standards, even though this has been the main contributor to the increase in Council’s debt levels. As the saying goes, how much is a human life worth? We have been very proactive in ensuring people are kept as safe as possible.”
Considering the Queenstown events, it would not be unexpected for Taumata Arowai to issue Compliance Orders to other Territorial Authorities, requiring non-upgraded supplies to have a Boil Water Notice until appropriate treatment barriers are in place. This will not affect the vast majority of Waitaki water supply customers.
ENDS