Dunedin boil water notice lifted
Dunedin boil water notice lifted
Dunedin (Friday, 18 August 2017) – The boil water notice which affected parts of Dunedin has been lifted.
However, residents and businesses in the affected areas must run all taps at their properties for 10 – 15 minutes before drinking water from those taps. There are other things that need to be done to help remove any residual untreated water from their systems. Visit www.dunedin.govt.nz/boilwaternotice for information and advice or see next page.
Dunedin City Council Chief Executive Sue Bidrose says, “As hoped, based on test results and expert advice we were able to lift the boil water notice at 3pm today.
“This is good news and we’d like to thank all the residents and businesses who have been affected by the notice this week. However, it’s really important that people in affected areas follow the advice on our website around flushing of their water systems.”
The DCC today received its third clear bacteria test from the network. It also received a test result for the Ross Creek Reservoir water which showed no detectable levels of protozoa such as cryptosporidium.
Medical Officer of Health Dr Keith Reid says, “I’m very happy with the DCC’s response to this situation. It’s important the flushing advice is followed, but the key issue is that no bacterial contamination has been detected in the network at any time sampling has been done during the week.
“We’re not anticipating an increase in gastroenteritis as a consequence of this event.”
On Tuesday, a boil water notice was issued for parts of the central city (including the Warehouse Precinct), Leith Valley, Woodhaugh and the tertiary precinct. This followed the accidental release of untreated water from the Ross Creek Reservoir into the city’s water network, through a pipe previously thought to be disconnected.
Dr Bidrose says a full review of the event is being carried out.
The DCC is setting up a $100,000 fund to provide discretionary grants for people and small businesses where hardship has occurred because of this event. The process for applying to the fund and the criteria will be made available early next week.
Updates and information are also available at www.facebook.com/DunedinCityCouncil.