Taumarunui declared tap water clean and safe

The taste and odour of tap water is affected by naturally occurring organic compounds such as algae and diatoms that become more concentrated during periods of low water flow and warm weather.

Taumarunui tap water is safe to drink, despite a foul odour, says the Ruapehu District Council.

Council Environmental Manager, Anne Marie Westcott, says council would like to assure people that despite any taste or odour issues all council supplied tap water is 100 per cent safe and will not cause people to become ill.

The recent taste and odour issues affecting the Taumarunui water supply is due to naturally occurring organic compounds in the Whanganui River that become more concentrated during periods of low water flow and warm weather.

Ms Westcott said that as a natural ecological system rivers are always changing and council with our water contractor Veloia need to constantly work to keep things in balance.

"In extreme weather events of either low river flows or floods this is more difficult to do," she said.

"Taumarunui has always experienced water taste and odour problems and we have been dosing the water with carbon which is helping improve the situation.

"Sampling of both the raw water line and the treated water to try and determine how well the carbon is working has shown that adding extra carbon when the river is very low like it has been doesn't help the taste and odour issues much."

Veolia is talking with suppliers to try and source a new carbon type that might produce better results.

"Also when we have been carbon dosing at full capacity like we have recently this has caused other operational issues as the carbon is blocking up the filters.

"Getting the balance right is an on-going process of trying things, sampling and testing that takes time.

"It would be helpful if people experiencing taste and odour issues call council and let us know to allow us to run tests on the reticulation line.

"With conversations on local Facebook pages showing that there is some misunderstanding around water supply we are hoping people take some time to learn about issues and council's role and responsibilities."