Water to be chlorinated

New DNA based technology is in development that would help trace the source of contamination in...
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Water supplies at Arrowtown, Hawea and Glendhu Bay will be chlorinated this summer, following the Havelock North water contamination crisis earlier this year.

Queenstown Lakes District Council chief engineer Ulrich Glasner said installation of chlorination schemes would begin next Monday. Chlorination would probably begin during the week and continue until the end of March.

The Wanaka and Queenstown supplies were already chlorinated.

During the Havelock North water contamination event more than 5000 people became sick from waterborne gastrointestinal illness, causing Public Health South to request local territorial authorities consider chlorination and other treatment measures.

Each of the three small Queenstown Lakes supplies had previously been contaminated during peak summer season, which led to emergency chlorination.

Mr Glasner said having reviewed the risks to the public and sought medical and legal advice, the council had decided on the temporary summer measures.

It was also investigating permanently chlorinating all residential water supplies next year.

``Our communities are entitled to safe drinking water.

``There is both the expectation and legal requirement that the water for residents and visitors alike is safe to drink.''

Public Health South Medical Officer of Health Dr Derek Bell fully supported the council's decision.

``Chlorine provides one of the most effective ways of treating water because it disinfects the water all the way from the source through to homes and businesses.

Council chief executive Mike Theelen said the council was ``obligated'' to learn from the Havelock North incident and an event of that magnitude in Queenstown would be ``very damaging''.

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