Havelock boil water notice lifted

Marlborough District Council has lifted the boil water notice for the Havelock town supply after a temporary UV treatment plant came online today.

A boil water advisory for residents and businesses using the town water supply in Havelock was issued on 16 July, following a directive from the Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai.

In early August, Council contracted Apex Water Ltd to build a temporary UV treatment plant in Havelock.

Chief Executive John Boswell said it was great news.

“As of today the people of Havelock no longer have to boil their water. This is an excellent result and in good time for the busy visitor season.”

“Our engineers and contractors worked quickly and diligently to install the new ultraviolet (UV) treatment plant. Both the installation and commissioning process went very smoothly.”

“I’d like to thank our engineers and contractors for a job well done and a very successful outcome.”

Although chlorine was already used in the Havelock supply, it doesn’t protect consumers from the risk - however small - of protozoa getting into the supply. Public water supplies in New Zealand require a multi-barrier approach, including filtration, chlorine and UV.

The temporary plant required earthworks to build a platform 1.7 metres high to support the container housing the UV equipment, which sits next to Council’s existing chlorine treatment plant.

Height was required because the site is within the Kaituna River flood zone. The power connection was upgraded with a large transformer installed by Marlborough Lines.

Costs for the temporary plant are about $750K, some of which is recoverable through the reuse of equipment for the proposed permanent plant to be opened at a new site in Havelock in 2028.

Council has budgetted $14M for this in its Long Term Plan.