13 October 2004

Auckland City aims to ensure every drop is up to scratch

Auckland City is undertaking a survey of water served in food premises on Great Barrier Island to ensure it is fit for human consumption.

A team of environmental health officers will be undertaking the survey on Great Barrier today and tomorrow to measure whether the water complies with the New Zealand drinking water standards.

“Auckland City is committed to working with owners of food premises on Great Barrier Island to ensure the drinking water they serve to customers is safe,” says Greg Reid, team leader, Hauraki Gulf Islands. “With drinking water on the island taken from streams, bore extraction or roof supply, it is important that patrons are assured that water used for drinking and food preparation is fit for human consumption.”

Up to 35 premises on the island will be surveyed, including restaurants, cafes, home stays and schools.

Water samples will be taken from the premises and tested by an accredited laboratory for biological specimens including e.coli, cryptosporidium and giardia. The laboratory will also run a chemical analysis of mineral composition, trace elements and metals in the water.

Auckland City will work with the operators of premises whose results fail to meet the required standard. Possible measures to bring water up to standard range from simple cleaning and maintenance through to installation of filters and treatment mechanisms.

Auckland City will be covering the costs of the initial survey, with individual required to meet the costs of any remedial work and future ongoing testing.

The survey is a follow on from a similar initiative undertaken on Waiheke Island two years ago. As occurred on Waiheke, water testing will subsequently be included as a component of Great Barrier’s food license inspection process, which occurs every two years, and could ultimately affect the grade that food premises are awarded.

For more information, please call Auckland City on (09) 379 2020 or visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz.

ENDS

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