Water woes leave locals browned off

Jeremy Sullivan's bath water was discoloured thanks to the intake level being lowered at the water supply dam in Kerikeri. Photo/Supplied

Some Kerikeri home owners saw shades of brown when they turned on the taps over the past few days.

Tap water became discoloured after a change at the Kerikeri water supply last Wednesday and was finally clear by yesterday.

Far North District Council spokesman Richard Edmondson said the change in water colour was the result of the intake level being lowered at the water supply dam on Wiroa Rd near Kerikeri Airport.

The dam is owned and managed by the Kerikeri Irrigation Company which supplies water to the council's Kerikeri water treatment plant.

"We haven't determined why the irrigation company lowered the level of the intake, but assume this was an operational adjustment the company deemed necessary," Mr Edmondson said.

The change meant a quantity of naturally-occurring manganese, which was not present in the upper level of the dam, entered the treatment plant and discoloured the water that was supplied to some households.

"We had residents contacting our call centre on Friday and over the weekend," Mr Edmondson said.

"We apologise to our customers and would like to reassure them that the water, which is now showing no discoloration, was and continues to be safe to drink."

Tests showed the manganese levels in water samples taken from the supply were below maximum acceptable values (MAVs) set by the Ministry of Health.

Kerikeri local Jeremy Sullivan posted photos to the Northern Advocate Facebook page showing the colour of the brown water against the contrast of the white bathtub.

Mr Sullivan said they were told the water would clear in 24 hours.