E.coli reading prompts water supply switch for Waipatiki campground

The Waipatiki campground's private water supply tested positive for E.coli just before holidaymakers arrived for Labour Weekend. Photo/File

A positive E.coli reading in the Wapatiki Beach campground's private water supply prompted a boil water notice to be issued on Thursday last week, and plans to switch to a town water supply for the summer.

The Hawke's Bay District Health Board recommended the notice be put in place, after Hastings District Council and Hawke's Bay Regional Council environmental officers were alerted to the situation.

The Hastings District Council supplied cartons of water to the campground to ensure guests had safe water to drink over the weekend, and there has been daily testing of the supply since, with no further positive results.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council group manager asset management Graeme Hansen said three councils bought the campground early this year, and that it was managed by the regional council.

The plan was to connect the campground to the Hastings District Council's community drinking water and wastewater facilities by June next year, he said.

"Hastings District Council (HDC) is now preparing a temporary campground connection to its community water supply at Waipatiki.

"This will cover the busy summer period while HDC finalises plans to install permanent drinking and wastewater connections after the peak holiday period," Mr Hansen said.

In the interim the regional council would carry out internal flushing and cleaning of the drinking water system.