Why do you think there are 10 companies wanting to take over 4.3b litres of our water from the aquifer every year, bottle it, and sell it overseas?
A simple google search for 'chlorine in drinking water' produces all manner of results and the credibility of many of the sources is doubtful, however, the one that stood out for me was a report published by the highly-credible World Health Organisation that contained the line: "An increased risk of bladder cancer appeared to be associated with the consumption of chlorinated tapwater in a population-based, case-control study of adults consuming chlorinated or non-chlorinated water for half of their lifetimes". The source of this study was the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
We have, I believe, taken our water for granted in this country.
As a society we have significantly under-estimated its commercial and social value.
The fact that it is illegal to charge for the water that is bottled and exported epitomises this.
The irony that Havelock North people had to buy fresh water from supermarkets while those just down the road who bottle it and make a fortune get their water for free was not lost on many people.
I acknowledge there may be places in New Zealand (and certainly around the world) where the ongoing chlorination of the municipal water supply is necessary due to underlying conditions that we simply have no control over.
There is no doubt that chlorine is preferable to campylobacter and other nasties, but to call for a national policy to chlorinate all drinking water completely misses the point and is irresponsible. It is like suggesting putting a band aid on an ulcer: it may cover the sore but it certainly doesn't address the problem.
The point is to ensure the infrastructure delivering the water from source-to-house is fit for purpose and well maintained.
Of course no one knows what recommendations will come out of the inquiry into the Havelock North contamination debacle, but I just hope that for once we don't see a complete overreaction that seeks to eliminate all risk at any cost by advocating chemicals across the country.
If this does happen, the only winners will be the bottled water companies.
The bottom line is that chlorinating Napier's water supply is not needed and this is something I would march in the streets over.
I have four young children and I don't want them ingesting this chemical in their water.
People like Brent Manning suggesting that our water should be chlorinated is scare mongering, and any such proposition needs to be knocked on the head before it gains any ill-informed resonance.
- Stuart Nash is the MP for Napier.
- Views expressed here are the writer's opinion and not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz
