Second stage of water inquiry opens

The Havelock North water inquiry panel Dr Karen Poutasi, left, Justice Lyn Stevens QC (chair), and Anthony Wilson are back in Hastings this week to start Stage 2 of the inquiry hearings. Photo / File

The Hastings District Council was due to run further dye tests in the Brookvale area.
The second stage of the Havelock North water inquiry begins at Hastings District Court today, with the hearings expected to take up to three days.

Although subject to change, representatives from the Joint Working Group, Hastings District Council, Hawke's Bay District Health Board and independent expert Dr Dan Deere were scheduled to appear today.

Further appearances by Hawke's Bay Regional Council and Drinking Water Assessor representatives were also tabled for this week.

While Stage 1 of the inquiry addressed the facts and failings around last August's campylobacter outbreak that caused more than 5000 people to become sick, Stage 2 would look at lessons to be learnt, how to prevent gastro outbreaks in future and changes to improve the safety of drinking water.

A priority at this week's hearing would be to assess the current and ongoing safety of the Havelock North drinking water supply.

Submissions lodged by the councils and the DHB, which included the views of Drinking Water Assessors, noted that Brookvale Bore 3 and its treatment plant was operating effectively, but the longer-term future was yet to be decided.

In its report to the panel, the Hastings District Council said any decisions on this would be based on a wider review of future water sources that was currently under way, stakeholder input, resource consent considerations and community input.

Meanwhile the Hawke's Bay Regional Council had sent letters to 311 bore owners for 500 bores within 1000m of municipal supply bores on unconfined aquifers (including the Te Mata aquifer).

These were to request information to help the council assess compliance, and of 92 responses received, 58 were reported as secure, and 219 required follow-up visits.

In its report to the inquiry, the regional council noted that it was also investigating the extent of its knowledge of the aquifer with a Heretaunga groundwater model all but complete.

The Hastings District Council was due to run further dye tests in the Brookvale area and this work would improve the regional council's understanding of the potential risks.

In terms of reaction to any water contamination, the DHB noted that in the case of the low E.coli presence in Waimarama's water in February this year, the Hastings District Council's emergency response was smooth and seamless.

It contrasted the district council's response to the Havelock North contamination and said all agencies involved took a collaborative approach and there was a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities.

Drinking Water Assessors were, however, still finalising their review of the Hastings council's water safety plan and emergency response plan.

After this week's hearings, another would be held between August 7 and 11 to address the other Stage 2 issues.

These would include overarching questions around the concept of a "secure" water supply and whether this classification meant non-treatment was acceptable.

It would also consider whether all drinking water should be treated, including arguments against and the wishes of the community.

Today's hearing begins at 10am at the Hastings district courthouse.