Eight-week wait for Havelock water fix

A temporary ultraviolet filter installation reducing Havelock’s mains water boil notice from three years to roughly eight weeks is welcome news for the town’s residents.

On Friday it was announced that a temporary filter would be installed alongside the current chlorine processing plant, due to mandatory guidelines introduced by central Government.

The initial jolt of a three-year boil notice alongside the prior knowledge of necessary works under the Water Services Act, left Havelock Garden Motel owner/operator and Havelock Community Association chair Kirsa Sowman feeling “like the poor country cousin”.

“I think the biggest thing that got a lot of Havelock was the lack of notification - when the Council first rang me I thought it was in relation to the flood event that something had been found in there, and that it’s just for a week or two while the water cleared but the lady on the phone said, “Oh no, it'll be for a few years” – it was very sudden”, Kirsa recalled.

“We met with MP Stuart Smith, local councillors, Barbara Faulls and Raylene Dennis and Stephen Rooney from Council last Friday who outlined the background on their issues around a new site, and then Monday the Council came out with a hold fire ... not to spend any money yet.”

Council Group Manager Infrastructure and Services Richard Coningham says the aim of an eight-week turnaround for infrastructure installation is hopeful with the assistance of good weather.

“If all goes well, we’ll be able to lift the boil water advisory by mid-September but in the meantime, people should continue to boil water used for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and washing food.

“It requires earthworks to build a platform to support a large container housing the UV equipment and an upgraded power supply which Marlborough Lines has confirmed they have in stock.

“The Water Services Authority Taumata Arowai has advised that Council needs to draft a new Water Safety Plan to show how we are managing risk using the temporary treatment plant.  We expect this to be completed at the same time as the plant installation, over the next eight weeks.”

With food and hospitality sectors requiring businesses to supply water up to standard regardless of its source, the need for a multi-thousand-dollar filter on top of water rates, amid a quiet, flood-stricken winter season, left Kirsa scrambling for solutions.

“It would have been nice if they’d investigated temporary plant research first and saved the stress already on a lot of people out here.

“You just feel a bit like the poor country cousin stuck out here waiting to get your order approved.

“It’s one thing putting water bottles in rooms for drinking and for brushing despite the extra plastic, but then to bulk boil water for our guests over summer for any use is so impractical long term, especially after what has been a quiet time even for winter which flows on to everyone here.

“Most of our guests have been good when you explain the situation around being purely legislation, but in October 2023 Taumata Arowai wrote to 27 councils about 184 water sources that didn't comply so this can't have been that much of a surprise.”

Pelorus Area Health Trust’s Glenda Davies said while it was an inconvenience for the regions, their soups, cups of tea and community focus isn’t impacted as much as hospitality and accommodation providers.

“We pre-boil the water we use for our soup runs so it doesn’t affect us directly, and we haven’t seen any noticeable uptick in protozoa-based illnesses so far – just the usual colds, coughs and COVID hanging around.

“We shared the notice across our Facebook pages and contacts with the community members which we regularly serve and I think it was a really good idea from Council to get the local school kids to go door-to-door knocking and telling people.

“It’s a case of keep on keeping on for us.”

Mayor Nadine Taylor, who announced the change in plan to gathered Havelock residents at the opening of the Havelock Museum’s new Jack Shand Building in the Town Hall.

“It has been a difficult couple of weeks for the people of Havelock, particularly for food, hospitality and accommodation businesses.

“They have my sympathy and I thank them for their patience and understanding while we worked through this.

“I’d like to acknowledge Council’s Infrastructure and Services engineers for their focus on finding a temporary solution to see us through until the new water treatment plant is built.”

For up- to-date information go to www.marlborough.govt.nz/services/utilities/water-supplies/havelock-water-supply/frequently-asked-questions-boil-water-advisory-havelock