3 Feb 2021

Dunedin City Council unsure when water will be safe again

From Midday Report, 12:11 pm on 3 February 2021

Residents in two coastal Otago towns don't know when they'll be able to safely drink their tap water again due to high levels of lead.

A water tanker near the Golden Fleece Hotel in Waikouaiti where high lead levels were discovered in the water supply.

Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton

Yesterday the Dunedin City Council informed the 1,500 residents of Waikouaiti and Karitane to stop using their tap water for drinking, cooking and preparing food.

A lead reading of 39 micrograms per litre - which is four times the acceptable level - was first noticed on December 18th, but the alert was sent to a council staff member who was on holiday.

Emma Hatton spoke to RNZ's reporter, Tess Brunton, who's been in Karitane and Waikouaiti.