The consequences of a water-borne illness outbreak in Kaiteriteri over summer would be serious and difficult to contain, especially with with large numbers of people camping in close proximity.
For that reason, we have decided to chlorinate the water supply from 1 December 2018 to 31 March 2019.
We’ll assess feedback from the trial in early 2019.
Why are we chlorinating?
Chlorinating the water during this time ensures that the water always remains safe to drink.
Chlorine provides excellent protection against the risks of bacteria and from some viruses. We have prepared background material for people who have concerns about chlorination.
Why we chlorinate - background information (pdf, 48 KB)
Tips
- If you have fish - don’t forget to use a neutralising agent if you change any water in the tank (this is available from pet stores).
- If you don’t like the taste of chlorine, you can lessen it by chilling the water before drinking it or leaving the water in a jug at room temperature for a while first.
- A water jug with a carbon filter in will also take away most of the chlorine. You can get these in kitchen stores.
About the supply
in 2018 we completed a new $1.4 million water treatment plant for Riwaka-Kaiteriteri to ensure a safe drinking water supply for the area. Previously water was pumped directly from bores into the pipe network.
Kaiteriteri's water is treated at the new plant with ultra-violet light treatment, which ensures it is safe and clean when it enters the pipe network. However, pipe breaks or illegal connections create a risk of contamination entering the system through the reticulation. Chlorine provides a residual disinfectant throughout the pipe network. The treatment system was designed to allow for permanent and emergency chlorination as required.