Tokomaru residents have been urged to use bottled water after tests found elevated levels of lead in the town’s drinking water supply.
A “do not drink” water notice has been issued by the Horowhenua District Council as a “precautionary step” while authorities await further test results being processed today.
Notices like this are issued when the water supply is or could be contaminated with harmful chemicals or toxins. Boiling the water will not make it safe.
Enhanced testing carried out yesterday found non-compliant levels of lead in both the reservoir at the Tokomaru water treatment plant and the reticulation network.
The issue has affected hundreds of residents in the town, south of Palmerston North, after tests revealed unsafe levels of the toxic metal. (Source: 1News)
A water tanker has been dispatched to the Tokomaru community hall and bottled water will be delivered to a local school and early childhood centre, according to the council.
Advice given to locals suggests water can still be used for bathing and washing, but that bottled water should be used for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, washing fruits and vegetables, preparing food, mixing baby formula, making ice, or giving water to pets.
The first test result indicating something awry was taken last month.
First concerning lead test taken in mid-July
According to the council, drinking water in Horowhenua was deemed safe for drinking as part of the routine metal testing regime in April. The next test was planned for October.
But a July 16 test at the Tokomaru Fire Station “indicated the presence of lead in the network” after the completion of upgrades at the Tokomaru water treatment plant.
A council spokesperson said, “this was thought to be a sampling error, however as a precaution we have followed through with additional and more regular testing.”
“Following advice from Taumata Arawai, the council proactively implemented an enhanced testing regime so that we could be assured of any doubt.
“Results in late July confirmed the reservoir had no non-compliant traces of lead.”
On August 4, a further result indicated the “presence of lead in the reticulation network was thought to be impacted by a corroding brass tap at the sampling point.”
However, yesterday afternoon, test results indicated non-compliant levels of lead in the reservoir at the Tokomaru water treatment plant and reticulation network.
“These results are due to the enhanced testing in place, and council has with immediacy again contacted Taumata Arawai and the Ministry of Health for advice.”
Test results expected later today would determine the “next steps”, the council said.
“Results are expected back late Wednesday to eliminate the source (river) as a point of contamination. This will help to rule out that we still could be dealing with a sampling error.
“Our focus now turns to pinpoint the source of contamination, which could be either the river, the chemicals used to treat the water or the suspected brass tap, or another feature of the treatment plant.
“We don’t have the answers, but are working at pace to find the source of the positive result,” a council spokesperson said in a media release.
