About 29,000 residents in Hamilton must boil water for two more days and several schools are closed, after E. coli was found in the Rototuna reservoir. Photo / AFP
About 29,000 residents in Hamilton must boil water for two more days and several schools are closed, after E. coli was found in the Rototuna reservoir. Photo / AFP
By RNZ
Some Hamilton schools will be closed for the next two days because of a boil-water notice in the suburb of Rototuna.
The boil-water notice was issued on Saturday, after E. coli was detected in the Rototuna reservoir water supply.
Affected schools in Rototuna have posted on social mediathat they will be closed on Monday and Tuesday – the first two days of Term 4 – following advice from Hamilton City Council and the Ministry of Education.
The council said its latest water test samples were clear of E. coli, but the boil-water notice would remain in place for Rototuna in north Hamilton.
The notice affected about 12,000 Rototuna properties, after the positive test for E. coli during routine testing.
The council said Sunday’s test results showed no E. coli at the Rototuna reservoir or any sites around the city.
The boil-water notice applied to the Rototuna Water Supply Zone, which covered about 29,000 residents, as well as a small number of Waikato District Council residents supplied from the zone.
Only Waikato residents supplied by the Greenhill bulk supply point, being Gordonton and Puketaha, were impacted by the event, the Hamilton City Council said.
These residents were on the on-demand supply and the rural trickle-feed supply network and must also boil water for as long as the notice was in effect.
Three Waters director Maire Porter said it was encouraging that the latest water test samples were clear of E. coli.
She said people should still boil all tapwater and the notice would only lift after three consecutive days of clear tests.
A map showing the area affected by the boil-water notice. The impacted area includes Gordonton and Puketaha. Photo / Hamilton City Council
The water needed boiling before drinking, including making sachet juice or drinks, making ice, food preparation, brushing teeth and preparing infant or toddler formula.
“Washing hands and good hygiene is important, as E. coli can spread from person to person,” the council said.
“This is particularly important around more vulnerable members of the community, like infants, the elderly and people with immuno-compromised conditions.”
These groups and pregnant people should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers, it said.
Electric jugs with a cut-off switch could be used as long as they were full, allowing the water to come to the boil and waiting for it to switch off, the notice said.
“Do not hold the switch down to increase the boiling time.
“Water can also be placed in a clean metal pan and brought to a rolling boil for one minute. Boiled water should be covered and allowed to cool in the same container.”
Porter said the council was still investigating the cause of Saturday’s positive test.
“An incident management team has been established, and we will be working closely with Taumata Arowai [the Water Services Authority] and the Ministry of Health on next steps.
Porter said the council’s website and social media channels will carry updates as investigations continue.
