MEDIA RELEASE
Manukau Drinking Water Quality Programme
Manukau City (16 December, 2008) – Manukau Water Limited has launched a programme to keep Manukau’s drinking water safe
from possible backflow contamination.
Backflow is the unwanted reverse flow from a customer’s tap or water system back into the drinking water supply.
Backflow can result in a public health risk if water from a polluted source enters the drinking water supply. There have
been many instances both in New Zealand and internationally of backflow causing serious health problems and even death.
Manukau Water’s programme will see it audit backflow prevention devices and make sure property owners are aware of their
responsibility to install a backflow prevention device at the water meter to prevent contamination.
Manukau Water Limited has identified potentially high-risk customers and will be writing to them, auditing them and
visiting them to inform them of any measures they need to take to prevent backflow.
Martin Smith, General Manager of Infrastructure for Manukau Water Limited, said preventing backflow is critical to
ensuring the drinking water system remains healthy.
“It is the property owner's responsibility to ensure that the correct backflow device is installed on their property and
we will be working with our customers to make sure they understand these obligations,” Mr Smith said.
Mr Smith noted Manukau Water Limited is committed to providing safe, high quality drinking water to our customers at all
times.
“As part of this service, we want to ensure backflow does not occur in the public water system,” he said.
ends