Town hopes water will be clear for Christmas

Photo/File

Raetihi's alternative source of drinking water from the Makara Stream started flowing last week.

Ruapehu District Council chief executive and Civil Defence controller Peter Till said that in the longer term the plan is to return to Raetihi's original water source from the Makotuku Stream by Christmas.

"This will be dependent on whether tests show that the stream is free from hydrocarbons and we can safely make potable water from it."

With the clearance from health authorities the council has also withdrawn the emergency drinking water supply.

Mr Till said the phased removal of the drinking water supply services follows the removal of emergency toilets, showers and laundry services earlier. "Emergency drinking water has been supplied in four main ways; self-help water pods around Raetihi streets, door-to-door water bottle deliveries, water tanker deliveries and a stationary water tanker on the main street."

The street water pods have been removed and the door-to-door water bottle and tanker deliveries have finished.

Mr Till said that people who have had a council-installed dedicated water tank and pressure pump installed, who wish to retain these, can talk to council about purchasing the equipment.

"With 78 water tanks on the service register it will take some days for council to get around all these sites and confirm the arrangements for the removal of these tanks."

Mr Till said those businesses and homes that installed a dedicated water tank and pressure pump to bypass the reticulated water system would need to make arrangements to get back on the reticulated water supply.

"In the interim we will need to continue to service these tanks," he said.

Mr Till noted that over the emergency, council distributed potable water containers which residents were free to keep if they still had a use for them.

"If people have no further use for the portable water containers they can drop them off at council's Raetihi office on Seddon St. Any returned water containers will be sterilised and put in storage for any future events."