Christchurch Boil Water Notice: New Brighton, Burwood & More | RNZ News
- Christchurch residents in several eastern suburbs have been warned to boil their water immediately due to bacterial contamination.
- The Christchurch City Council is advising all residents in the affected areas to continuously boil water for at least one minute before use.
- All water, including filtered water, needs to be continuously boiled for at least one minute, although jugs with an automatic cut-off switch can be used, as long as...
Boil Water Notice Issued for Eastern Christchurch Suburbs
Christchurch residents in several eastern suburbs have been warned to boil their water immediately due to bacterial contamination. The public health alert affects residents in New Brighton, Burwood, Wainoni, Aranui and Southshore.
The Christchurch City Council is advising all residents in the affected areas to continuously boil water for at least one minute before use. This includes water intended for drinking, food preparation, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and making ice. Jugs with automatic cut-off switches can be used, provided they are filled completely.
All water, including filtered water, needs to be continuously boiled for at least one minute, although jugs with an automatic cut-off switch can be used, as long as they are full. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Residents and visitors to the affected areas will receive text message alerts regarding the situation. Council staff and contractors are currently conducting further testing and investigations to determine the source of the contamination.
The boil water notice will remain in effect until further notice, according to the Christchurch City Council. The council has not yet determined the cause of the bacterial contamination.
A map of the boil water notice area in Christchurch. Photo: Supplied
Similar boil water notices have been issued in Christchurch previously. In December 2019, a notice affecting approximately 2,000 households in Shirley, Bexley, Wainoni, and New Brighton was put in place after E. Coli was detected at the Keyes pump station. That notice was lifted after three consecutive clear test results were obtained, but the source of the contamination at that time also remained unknown.
Another, larger notice in December 2019, impacted 14,000 properties in New Brighton, Shirley, Waimari, Bexley, Burwood, Avondale, and Aranui, also due to E. Coli. Testing at the Keyes pump station detected the bacteria, and the station was isolated while investigations continued. Residents were asked to limit garden watering to conserve water pressure during that event.
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