Chlorination of the Hastings district water supply looks set to continue for the foreseeable future as the council awaits further information about the security of the water supply, and endeavours to ensure adequate water volume is available over the peak-demand summer months.
The management of drinking water supplies for Hastings, Flaxmere, Havelock North and Bridge Pa has come under the spotlight following the contamination of Havelock North's water in August, and is to be considered by the Hastings District Council at a full council meeting today.
As a result of the contamination, chlorine was introduced to treat the water for a three-month period, but this will need to be extended in light of further positive E.coli test results in the water supply, and the need to provide extra water over summer.
In a report to the council, group manager asset management Craig Thew and chief executive Ross McLeod said that after the Havelock North water supply was switched over to come from the Hastings supply following the campylobacter outbreak, positive E.coli results were found during testing.
These included two positive tests at the Wilson Rd bore on August 19 and September 21 and one at the Willowpark bore on October 1 - although subsequent tests, which are being carried out daily, have been clear since.