Council votes to explore removing chlorine from Napier's water

Napier's water since it was chlorinated has been a source of heated public debate. Photo / File

Napier City Council has voted to explore options for removing chlorine from the city's water.

A report on the options, which appears set to cost ratepayers $200,000, will likely be commissioned by councillors at a follow-up meeting in June.

In total Napier's councillors voted at a stop-start draft annual plan meeting on Tuesday on eight recommendations regarding the city's water, including one that stated the council considers it the number one priority for the city.

They also voted to invite the Christchurch City Council Water Supply Improvement manager and Canterbury medical officer of health to visit Napier and share the information and experience they had de-chlorinating the city's water supply.

Councillor Annette Brosnan, who added three recommendations to council officers' original recommendations including the report, said Napier City Council had never made the decision to permanently chlorinate.

"It has been forced upon us after an extraordinary event in 2017 and in my view, after two years, our time has come to push back and make the decision for ourselves."

Brosnan said the council needed the community behind it with its decision making on water.

Councillor Annette Brosnan added three recommendations, including commissioning a report to look at options for chlorine-free water. Photo / Warren Buckland

"Submissions tell us chlorination is causing no end of problems, least of all an unacceptable number of 'dirty water' occurrences which have plagued us for two years, with no end date in sight.

"We need to put the real figures of providing unchlorinated water in front of the community and let them tell us if its affordable."

The meeting was briefly derailed when members of the public attempted to speak during the meeting.

One member of the public asked whether the meeting would be opened to the public, and when he was told no, attempted to ask a question anyway.

Acting Mayor Faye White adjourned the meeting, and councillors were asked to leave the room.

Acting Mayor Faye White, who adjourned the meeting when members of the public attempted to speak. Photo / Warren Buckland

"Clearly you cannot provide the people of Napier safe, sanitary water," the speaker said.

A second speaker accused the councillors of running away and hiding as they left the room.

"We'll stop paying our rates shall we, then you might think."

According to the NCC website, to speak at a council meeting prospective speakers must ask the chair at least a day before the meeting.

Councillors unanimously voted in favour of all water related motions, including.

- Water projects will be moved forward to the 2019/2020 financial year, costing $7.8 million.

- Council will work with the Ministry of Health to develop an education campaign regarding chlorine.

- Council will change of the funding source for all Three Waters (stormwater, wastewater, rainwater) projects for 2019/2020 from rates to loans-rates.

- The people commissioned to do the independent options and costings assessment be selected by councillors for transparency.

Spokesperson for chlorine removal advocacy group Guardians of the Aquifers Pauline Doyle said it was pleased council is looking into alternate options.

"In the meantime we will continue gathering signatures is support of our petition for chlorine-free Water for Napier - until we have a new council after the elections on October 12."

The draft annual plan will now be finalised by officers and put to council at a meeting on June 28.