By ANGELA GREGORY
MOTUTI - The first water treatment plant in a Ministry of Health pilot programme has been installed in a northern Hokianga marae.
About 30 marae, serving 6500 people, will be fitted with the water-filtration plants in the $1.56 million Punawai o Hokianga project.
The ministry wants to reduce the incidence of preventable water-borne diseases and to improve the health of low-income and predominantly Maori communities.
At Motuti Marae yesterday, the community gathered to celebrate the installation last week of the treatment plant.
A spokesman for the community, Wally Kanara, said the safe drinking water was appreciated as the community often used the marae.
"We have 60 to 80 adults living locally, plus their children, and use the marae at least twice a week for functions and training programmes."
It was hoped locals would follow suit and install similar purification systems in their homes, he said.
The Hokianga drinking-water problems were highlighted following the January 1999 floods.
But the substandard water supplies were not just restricted to the flooded areas, extending throughout the district.
Pre-flood records had shown that some supplies were persistently contaminated by faecal material.
Communities at the greatest risk were among the lowest 20 per cent in socio-economic status, with Maori over-represented.
The ministry had contracted the Hokianga Health Enterprise Trust to manage the pilot programme.
Hokianga Health chief executive Bridget Allan said the trust would work with the communities to raise awareness of the public health issues.
The trust would also set up systems to maintain the plant and monitor water quality, she said.
Once the pilot was evaluated, a decision would be made on its continuation and possible introduction to other rural low-income areas.
About 4 per cent of the country's population has problem water supplies.
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