Water Stories #4 Retired Havelock North couple David and Nola Bassett say they have never before witnessed such an outbreak as was the Havelock North water contamination crisis. First published in 2017. Made with funding from NZ On Air.
Fluoride is returning to Hastings' water after an eight-year absence. Photo / Laura Smith
Hastings’ water had been fluoridated since the 1950s, and a public vote in 2013 supported its use, Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said.
“It has always been council’s intention to re-introduce fluoride, alongside chlorine once our new water storage and treatment facilities were completed,” she said.
“This has since been reinforced by a clear directive from the Ministry of Health to resume fluoridation.”
From next week, fluoride will be reintroduced to the main urban water supply which provides water to Hastings, Havelock North, Flaxmere, Bridge Pā and Pakipaki.
But the council was not required to add fluoride to the smaller community drinking water supplies “at this stage”, it said in a statement.
A supply of non-chlorinated water without added fluoride was still available at the community drinking water station in Hastings Civic Square, it said.
