Temuka Water Update 5 13/12/17 1800
Timaru District Council is continuing to work to clear Temuka water supplies, and will be installing a temporary
filtration plant for the whole town?s supply before Christmas.
They are also reiterating that the water in Temuka is safe to drink and use normally.
The first two days testing results have shown a decline in the amount of asbestos in the water, we?re now awaiting
Friday?s results to confirm that trend.
Asbestos is considered safe in water, so there is no international level. The American EPA considers a high level for
long term exposure to be 7 million fibres per litre. Preliminary results from samples from Temuka so far have all tested
under the 500,000 fibres per litre mark.
Ashley Harper, Group Manager Infrastructure, said that they?re currently finalising the necessary testing on the
filtration equipment to identify the correct filter size, so that the plant can handle the flow rates require to service
a town the size of Temuka.
?This option will remove most of the materials from the water in the short term to enable us to work on a long term
solution to the issue.
?However a filter of this type does have an impact on water flow rates, so we need the community to support us by
stopping all outdoor water usage.
?Early provisional results from our testing of the water seems to showing a decline in the amount in the system, we?re
hoping this continues, but we?re going to go ahead with the filtering plant in the interim while we continue work on a
long term solution.?
With the installation of the filter plant, Temuka will be put straight onto Level 5 water restrictions, this means a
total hosing ban - no hose or sprinkler system may be used. You may carry water using a bucket, watering can or similar.
Commercial users are also required to achieve water savings.
A self-serve supply of water will continue to be made available during Library and Service Centre opening hours to those
who wish to use it. It is at the Temuka Library and Service Centre car park.
ENDS