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Chlorine exemption not raised with regulator

Keiller MacDuff keiller.macduff@stuff.co.nz

The Timaru District Council ruled out gaining a chlorine exemption for Geraldine’s water supply before raising the issue with the new water regulator Taumata Arowai.

Under law changes, as of midNovember water suppliers are required to use residual disinfection in all water supplies to protect from waterborne illness.

Suppliers can apply for an exemption if they can prove the water will comply with the law and their Drinking Water Safety Plan.

In October, the council said the requirements were too onerous to consider applying for an exemption.

However, Taumata Arowai principal drinking water adviser Jim Graham said the regulator had not had any contact with the council on the issue.

‘‘We haven’t received an exemption [application], we haven’t had any discussions with them at all about an exemption. That’s their call,’’ Graham said.

In the council’s October media release announcing the imminent chlorination, drainage and water manager Grant Hall said it had looked into the exemption process, but did not believe it could meet the requirements.

‘‘As part of the preparation for the change council had investigated applying for a residual disinfection exemption for Geraldine, but our investigations showed we would be unable to meet the burden of proof expected by Taumata Arowai.’’

In material sent to Geraldine residents, the council said previous test results would prevent it from gaining an exemption.

’’You may have heard about other towns and cities around the country that are trying to get an exemption.

‘‘Any exemption applications would be subject to review by an international panel of experts.

‘‘Since 2017, 1% of 700 tests from the Geraldine water supply reticulation network have detected the presence of bacteria.

‘‘Based on this factor alone, our assessment is that we would be unable to meet the burden of proof required in order to obtain an exemption,’’ the council said.

While Graham did not confirm whether the council’s 1% contamination rate would have prevented them from obtaining an exemption, previous contamination would make it ‘‘difficult’’ to grant an exemption, he said.

‘‘What I would say is one of the things we look at when we’re assessing exemption is history of any contamination of a water supply. And if it’s clear to us that there’s a history of contamination, or any kind of contamination pathway that could occur without chlorine, then it becomes very difficult for us to provide an exemption.’’

He said the water regulator assesses ‘‘every exemption application on its merits.’’

‘‘We start with an open mind. We have provided information to water suppliers . . . of the kind of things we will look at. And then when they make an application, we start a process of looking at their supplies and talking to them and seeking further information.

‘‘We have to be satisfied – and this is in the act – we have to be satisfied that if we issue an exemption ... the intention of the act will be met.

‘‘In other words, we have to be satisfied the water supplier can provide safe drinking water,’’ Graham said.

Geraldine was the last of the council’s water supplies to remain unchlorinated, with Downlands, Orari, Peel Forest, Pleasant Point, Seadown, Te Moana, Temuka,

Timaru, Upper Pareora and Winchester water already treated.

Geraldine has long pushed back against the chlorination of its water supply, forcing a backdown by the council in 2018.

Chlorination began midNovember, with the ‘‘commissioning process’’ now underway, in which a small amount of chlorine is added until the required treatment levels throughout the pipe network are reached, a district council spokesperson said.

‘‘As part of this we will be finetuning the control system to ensure we have consistent long term treatment levels,’’ he said. in

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2022-12-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-12-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

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