Havelock North drinking water enquiry

11 May 2017

Council chief executive Mark Wheeler says Marlborough District Council has invested heavily in its water supplies over recent years.

“Our largest populations in Blenheim and Picton now enjoy water treated to fully meet the NZ drinking water standard. We consider Riverlands a secure supply and it has a compliant water safety plan. Our other supplies are all chlorinated but do require further treatment upgrades.

“A boil water notice does apply to the Seddon/Awatere supply.

“Monitoring of all supplies is undertaken and any transgression is responded to quickly. Staff work cooperatively with the Public Health Unit of the DHB.

“Full treatment is budgeted for Seddon, Renwick, Havelock and rural Awatere, and community consultation has been undertaken and is on-going on the funding of that. Treatment of Wairau Valley is being investigated.

“Council has good emergency response systems in place, including a variety of communications channels with residents.

“Our Assets and Services emergency response plan has been updated in the last six months.

“Marlborough is a unitary council so does not have governance or management issues between regional and district authorities. Staff in our regulatory and operating departments have on-going dialogue about water supplies in Marlborough, and their protection and improvement.

“We will take a close look at the findings of this enquiry and ensure any relevant learnings are applied in Marlborough.

“Our upcoming Long-Term Plan is an opportunity for council and the community to consider our priorities in more detail.”

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