Boil water notice for Whirinaki

The Hastings District Council supplied fresh water for employees at Pan Pac after the Whirinaki water supply was found to be contaminated with E. coli yesterday. Photo / Supplied

Whirinaki's water supply was chlorinated yesterday and a boil water notice issued after low levels of E coli were found in the network.

Pan Pac Forest Products Ltd was one of 280 Whirinaki properties to receive a boil water notice yesterday afternoon.

The warning will remain in place until further notice, said Hastings District Council water services manager Brett Chapman.

The notices were hand-delivered to all properties yesterday afternoon and the information had been sent to Pan Pac and Contact Energy for sharing with staff.

Pan Pac company secretary Dennis Hall said all staff and contractors were told about the situation yesterday, and the Hastings council had organised for fresh water in 10-litre bladders to be delivered.

"The council has been very good and right on the ball."

With about 800 staff, the fresh water would save the company the exhaustive task of boiling water for all, Mr Hall said.

As well as the supply of water delivered yesterday, he said a further delivery would be dropped off in the morning, with the possibility of further top-ups this afternoon.

The council started chlorinating the supply as soon as the results were received yesterday and that would also continue until further notice.

The system was being flushed to ensure the chlorine had reached all parts of the system.

The E. coli results were found in the reticulation system not in the aquifer source, and samples taken at the treatment plant were clear, said Mr Chapman.

"The 2 cfu reading is at the lower end of detection, but any E. coli reading is not acceptable, hence the boil water notice and chlorination."

The council was working with the Hawke's Bay District Health Board in terms of the response and advice to affected residents.

Investigations into potential causes would be carried out when the council had ensured the safety of the water supply.