Test results from the water samples taken from the Eureka reservoir have put the water supply in the ‘all clear’ and residents in the area can no longer worry about any contamination affecting their water.
Waikato District Council General manager water and facilities Richard Bax says this is a great relief for the people in the area who have had a limited or no water supply since Tuesday this week after council staff discovered two rats had drowned in the reservoir.
“We had to drain, clean and refill the reservoir before carrying out a 24 hour test on the water and unfortunately for residents, the cost of safe drinking water from our supply has meant up to three days with limited or no water. It has been a very challenging time for the people in this area.”
“The water for Eureka and Tauwhare is sourced from Hamilton City and the lowered pressure was a result of us bypassing the reservoir and the booster pump just to get some treated water to our residents there,” he said.
Residents were advised to boil their drinking water as a precaution however, there is no longer any need to for concern over the water quality from the Eureka reservoir.
It is thought the offending rats accessed the reservoir by climbing pittosporum trees before chewing a hole in the sealed roof. To avoid this happening again, the trees are to be removed and the reservoir roof has been repaired. Waikato District Council staff inspect the reservoir roof every six months and regular water testing is carried out weekly to meet NZ Water Safety Standards.
“This the first time this has happened at this reservoir and we are taking all steps to ensure it won’t happen again,” said Mr Bax.
ENDS ________________________________________ For more information contact:
Richard Bax General Manager Water &Facilities Waikato District Council 07 824 5829 027 241 5359 richard.bax@waidc.govt.nz