Editorial: Napier needs chlorine-free water option

Napier council needs to offer the same chlorine-free water alternative as Hastings, writes Mark Story. Photo File

Splash Planet isn't Hastings' only water attraction.

A stainless steel filter on Eastbourne St is proving a huge hit for tourists and locals this summer.

From its depths springs chlorine-free hydration with the added bonus of no nasties therein.

It boasts six taps, drip plates and plenty of parking. There are often queues and it's always chocker. And I should add patrons aren't barefooted in kaftans.

Up the road, Napier hasn't been as gracious to its discerning drinkers.

Months ago the city's only chlorine-free source (ie garden taps hidden in Taradale) were turned off due to water quality concerns.

Some now drive to said Hastings' source while others are installing domestic filters.

There's also anecdotal evidence of others in Napier taking the more drastic step of installing water tanks - a little bit of country in the city.

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton this week said council would consider introducing a public chlorine-free filter, but added: "people will get very sick of travelling to filter them".

Certainly they're sick of travelling to Hastings.

Surely the uptake of private filters, tank consideration and those willing to drive 20 minutes indicates a desire, if not a need.

Is the absence of chlorine-free taps a cunning ploy by council to save water by forcing residents to instead draw from Hastings?

I jest, of course. But what's not funny is the double imposition of a council urging conservation while moving at glatial speed to contemplate offering an alternative flavour.

There's considerable irony that just one and a half years on, Napier residents are travelling 26km to the site of the country's worst water-borne crisis - to fetch water.