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Lake Sediment Sampling Results
Statement from Opuha Water Limited [OWL]
Thursday 16 October 2015
Opuha Water Limited is calling for more responsibility to be shown by those continuing to make claims about Lake Opuha and the river that are not supported by credible science.
ECan, as the lead regulatory authority, yesterday made very clear statements that in the bed of Lake Opuha and the weir downstream there was no evidence of elevated pesticide contamination yet some groups and individuals are continuing to refute that.
OWL Acting Chair Milne Horne says there has been a robust and scientifically sound process followed and the findings that were released yesterday by ECan should give the community, shareholders and other stakeholders significant comfort and reassurance.
“All the parties including Opihi Catchment Environmental Protection Society [OCEPS] agreed to the sediment sampling protocols and were present when the samples were taken. OCEPS need to stop trying to scare the community and let the process continue under the leadership and facilitation of ECan.”
“Like ECan, OWL took seriously the claims made by OCEPS earlier this year and again, like ECan, OWL has invested thousands in taking an evidence based approach.”
“We have, in conjunction with ECan, commissioned our own laboratory analysis of sediment samples and the results have come out consistent with the other accredited laboratory results. We are currently awaiting the outcome of even more rigorous analyses which we instigated to confirm the initial clear results. We are also very interested in the outcome of the analysis of fish caught in the lake by Fish & Game for ECan.”
ECan’s statement yesterday from Chief Executive Bill Bayfield provided detail around this and that needs to be front and centre in the minds of the public.
“No evidence of elevated pesticide contamination has been found in sediment under Lake Opuha or at the weir below the dam as a result of sediment sample tests carried out by three accredited laboratories in the last month.
The tests results from Hill Laboratories in Hamilton, ALS Laboratories in Australia and Asure Quality in New Zealand, all showed levels of DDT and arsenic in the sediment were at or below expected levels for other lakes and rivers in Canterbury.
“All our tests, from 2011 and again in 2015, show the water, the lake bed, the river water and sediment are at or below safe expected levels.
“It is clear now that the test results provided by the Opihi Catchment Environment Protection Society (OCEPS) in July 2015, showing high levels of DDT in several samples, are sandwiched 2
between these laboratory test results from 2011 and August 2015, taken under stringent scientific protocols, that show pesticide levels at or below expected levels.”
Environment Canterbury agreed in August to work closely with OCEPS, Opuha Water Ltd and Arowhenua Rūnanga on testing sediment from locations specified by OCEPS on the bed of Lake Opuha and downstream in the Opihi River. This was in response to claims by OCEPS that there were contaminants present in the sediment after allegations were made in 2011 that someone had been seen burying drums of pesticide in the lake bed when it was being prepared in 1998.
“We have worked closely with OCEPS. We took their claims of contamination seriously. We have spent a considerable amount of time and money conducting tests to their satisfaction, because it is our duty to investigate and protect public and environmental health from pesticide or other contamination.
Milne Horne said there is no evidence to support some of the outlandish statements that have been made by OCEPS over the past 24 hours and it is time for this to stop.
“OCEPS agreed to the protocols but are now challenging those because the initial results don’t support its earlier claims. We have, understandably, had many calls from people really concerned because of these comments.”
“OWL has given ECan its full co-operation and support throughout and will continue to do so. The company is formally writing to police offering its support into the criminal investigation to identify the individual or individuals who maliciously put DDT and arsenic granules near the Opuha River. OWL wants to see these perpetrators prosecuted to the full extent of the law. ECan also stated that if this was a deliberate, it is a despicable action and OWL absolutely has the same opinion.”
“The small area of sediment containing the white granules has now been removed and both ECan and public health officials have given strong reassurances to the community. It is those organisations who should be listened to and not individuals with other agendas.”
“The company has always kept an open mind throughout and will continue to do so as the priority is the faith and confidence of all stakeholders in the lake and river as a water source. This scheme has been operating for 16 years.”
“This is a critical time of year for our irrigators and this matter needed to be resolved in a scientifically robust way under the leadership of ECan as the lead regulatory authority.”
Ends
It would be inappropriate for OWL to undertake follow-up interviews at this time so as not to compromise the criminal investigation.
October 14, 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
No evidence of contamination in Opuha
Statement from Environment Canterbury Chief Executive, Bill Bayfield
No evidence of elevated pesticide contamination has been found in sediment under Lake Opuha or at the weir below the dam as a result of sediment sample tests carried out by three accredited laboratories in the last month.
“As far as we are concerned we have found nothing to support claims that drums of pesticides were buried under the lake bed before it was filled in 1998. There is no evidence of a dump, and no evidence of subsequent contamination in the lake or the river.”
“While we will always have the door open to further evidence, perhaps when the lake is empty again, we hope that this is the end to speculation and provides certainty for Opuha Water users.
The tests results from Hill Laboratories in Hamilton, ALS Laboratories in Australia and Asure Quality in New Zealand, all showed levels of DDT and arsenic in the sediment were at or below expected levels for other lakes and rivers in Canterbury.
“All our tests, from 2011 and again in 2015, show the water, the lake bed, the river water and sediment are at or below safe expected levels.
“It is clear now that the test results provided by the Opihi Catchment Environment Protection Society (OCEPS) in July 2015, showing high levels of DDT in several samples, are sandwiched between these laboratory test results from 2011 and August 2015, taken under stringent scientific protocols, that show pesticide levels at or below expected levels.”
Environment Canterbury agreed in August to work closely with OCEPS, Opuha Water Ltd and Arowhenua Rūnanga on testing sediment from locations specified by OCEPS on the bed of Lake Opuha and downstream in the Opihi River. This was in response to claims by OCEPS that there were contaminants present in the sediment after allegations were made in 2011 that someone had been seen burying drums of pesticide in the lake bed when it was being prepared in 1998.
“We have worked closely with OCEPS. We took their claims of contamination seriously. We have spent a considerable amount of time and money conducting tests to their satisfaction, because it is our duty to investigate and protect public and environmental health from pesticide or other contamination.
However, unfortunately the survey has found that a small area of sediment containing white granules has been deposited into a small area of the Opuha River near Skipton Bridge in recent months. We took a sample of it away for analysis and the test results show it has very high levels of DDT and arsenic, and that it is fairly new.
“The only conclusion we can draw is that someone has, in the last couple of months, deposited what farmers would recognise as prills of DDT and arsenic into a very small area of the Opuha River, near Skipton Bridge. If this is the case it is a despicable action. 4
Environment Canterbury has discussed the issue with the Police, and has notified the South Canterbury Medical Officer of Health and the Timaru District Council. As a result of these discussions, the small area of sediment containing these white granules will be removed from the river bed near Skipton Bridge this afternoon (Wednesday 14 October, 2015).
“We cannot ignore the evidence, that apparently someone has put the DDT and arsenic granules into the Opuha River and has potentially endangered the health of the people and animals that use that water. The contamination must be removed.”
We will complete further tests on the sediment at this location in coming weeks after the clean-up is completed.
Background Information
In the last week of August 2015, six sediment samples were taken from the bed of Lake Opuha and two downstream from the Opuha River under an agreed sampling protocol with OCEPS, Opuha Water and Arowhenua Rūnanga.
When the last sample was taken near Skipton Bridge, at a location different from that specified in OCEPS’ GPS guide, the three people present (one from ECan, one from OCEPS and one from Opuha Water) noticed small white granules over a small area to one side of the river. Samples of the granules, as well as the sediment around them, were taken and sent off for testing. Sediment at the site that was originally specified in OCEPS’ GPS guide was also sampled for testing.
The results have been independently assessed by an independent environmental chemist. After a preliminary assessment the chemist has recommended an immediate clean-up at the Skipton bridge site.
It has been illegal to buy or use DDT in New Zealand since the mid-1970s.
Test results to date:
2011: Lake-water, downstream river water, fish and eels from the lake showed no pesticides (DDT/DDE) above the safe expected levels for Canterbury. Ground penetrating radar of the lake bed in areas allegedly contaminated showed no evidence of bed disturbance or containers of any sort.
April – July 2015: Test results provided by OCEPS from samples taken by them from the lake bed and downstream in April showed very high levels of DDT/DDE in four of the samples.
In April 2015, when dry weather exposed much of the lake bed, a further ground penetrating radar test was conducted of the lake bed by a University of Canterbury scientist proposed by OCEPS and once again, no evidence of bed disturbance or buried drums was found.
August-October 2015: Lake-water, downstream river water and fish from the lake and downstream at the sites located by the eight GPS co-ordinates provided by OCEPS showed no pesticides or arsenic above the safe expected levels for Canterbury. These test results came from three accredited laboratories – Hill Laboratories (Hamilton), ALS Laboratories (Sydney) and Asure Quality NZ. Fish from the lake provided by Fish and Game are still being analysed.
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