Christchurch Drinking Water Security
Christchurch Drinking Water Security And Public Health Protection in Christchurch
John Mackie
IPWEA Northern South Island branch
Three Waters and Waste
Wells in Christchurch (ECAN Records)
Three waters and Waste
Community Water Supply Zone
Zone
Population
Christchurch Central
Central Christchurch
185,000
Parklands
16,000
Riccarton
10,000
Rocky Point
2,500
West Christchurch
42,000
Northwest Christchurch
Northwest Christchurch
80,000
Brooklands/Kainga
Brooklands/Kainga
1,600
337,100
Three Waters and Waste
Why we provide water services? Local Government Act 2002 Requires Council to consider the provision Core Services in performing role under s11A of the LGA, including water network services. Health Act 1956 Requires water suppliers to protect the health and safety of people and communities by promoting adequate supplies of safe and wholesome drinking water from all drinking-water supplies, and then must; • monitor drinking water; • take all practicable steps to comply with the drinkingwater standards; • implement risk management plans.
Three Waters and Waste
Recommendations from the Havelock North Enquiry Stage 1 Report - May 2017
• Found that contamination was due to sheep faeces entering what was thought to be secure ground water causing the campylobacter outbreak • Failings with District and Regional Councils in failing to adequately address risks and a dysfunctional relationship • Ministry of Health and the DHB Drinking Water Assessor were too hands off • Poor contingency planning • Failure of consultants MWH to competently assess and report on the security of bore heads
Three Waters and Waste
Recommendations from the Havelock North Enquiry Stage 2 Report - 6 December 2017 In the Stage 2 Report the Enquiry made 51 recommendations which were wide ranging and included: • • • • • •
Abolishing the secure classification system for groundwater Encourage/mandate universal treatment Establish a single drinking water regulator Review the Drinking Water Standards New Zealand Create dedicated and aggregated drinking water suppliers Review Water Safety Plans; and many others.
The Director General of Health was encouraged to act swiftly on two of the recommendations that can be implemented under current Health legislation. Note: We are expecting a position on all recommendations to be made clear, later in 2018. This will be aligned with the current work being done by the D.I.A.. Three Waters and Waste
Response of the Drinking Water Assessor In response to the latest well head security assessment and the Director General of Health’s statement of 20 December 2017, on 22 December 2017 the Canterbury Drinking Water Assessor has revised the status of bores in Christchurch and has removed their secure status. “The reports from the bores inspected recently this year show that some bore heads do not meet the security criteria and therefore the security status for Christchurch and Brooklands Kainga is removed. This means that the supplies now are not able to demonstrate the protozoa requirements of section 5 of the Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand (DWSNZ) through demonstrating secure sources.” Drinking Water Assessor, 22 December, 2017
Three Waters and Waste
Well Head Security Improvements New well head installations are now above ground…
Christchurch City Council footer text
Steps to Comply with the DWSNZ The Drinking Water Standards of New Zealand (DWSNZ) requires a multiple barrier approach to minimise the risk of water contamination. The barriers can include: • Minimising the extent of contaminants in the source water that must be dealt with by the treatment process • Removing undesirable soluble and particulate matter • Disinfecting to inactivate any pathogenic organisms present • Protecting the treated water from subsequent contamination
Three Waters and Waste
Steps to Comply with the DWSNZ The requirements can be met by Christchurch by undertaking the following steps: • • • • • •
Return to secure bore status (upgrade of well heads in progress) Bacterial and protozoal protection (UV treatment at source) Residual disinfection (chlorination) Regular and frequent water quality testing (ongoing) Proactive backflow prevention management Strictly observed operations and maintenance procedures to prevent contamination • Implementation of approved and current Water Safety Plan
Three Waters and Waste
Interim Steps
At the Council Meeting on 25 January 2018, on the advice of the Medical Officer of Health, the Council passed a resolution to chlorinate the Christchurch water supply for up to 12 months while the work on improving well head security continued.
Three Waters and Waste
Regional Response
All Councils in the Canterbury Drinking Water Reference Group, who were formed in October 2016, have taken action in response to Havelock to either chlorinate, treat with UV light, or in the case of Kaikoura, still have 3 water supplies on boil water notices. Most have also made provision in their Long Term Plans for upgrades and treatment.
Three Waters and Waste
National Response
Government officials have prepared a Cabinet Paper that will be considered in mid-March on all 51 recommendations.
It seems likely that; • A National Regulator will be established • Secure bore status will be removed from the DWSNZ • Mandatory treatment with residual disinfection will be required • The standard required for exemption will be uneconomic • Recommendations likely by June 2018
Three Waters and Waste
Three waters and Waste
Phreatoicus typicus
Three waters and Waste
John Mackie
IPWEA Northern South Island branch
Three Waters and Waste
Wells in Christchurch (ECAN Records)
Three waters and Waste
Community Water Supply Zone
Zone
Population
Christchurch Central
Central Christchurch
185,000
Parklands
16,000
Riccarton
10,000
Rocky Point
2,500
West Christchurch
42,000
Northwest Christchurch
Northwest Christchurch
80,000
Brooklands/Kainga
Brooklands/Kainga
1,600
337,100
Three Waters and Waste
Why we provide water services? Local Government Act 2002 Requires Council to consider the provision Core Services in performing role under s11A of the LGA, including water network services. Health Act 1956 Requires water suppliers to protect the health and safety of people and communities by promoting adequate supplies of safe and wholesome drinking water from all drinking-water supplies, and then must; • monitor drinking water; • take all practicable steps to comply with the drinkingwater standards; • implement risk management plans.
Three Waters and Waste
Recommendations from the Havelock North Enquiry Stage 1 Report - May 2017
• Found that contamination was due to sheep faeces entering what was thought to be secure ground water causing the campylobacter outbreak • Failings with District and Regional Councils in failing to adequately address risks and a dysfunctional relationship • Ministry of Health and the DHB Drinking Water Assessor were too hands off • Poor contingency planning • Failure of consultants MWH to competently assess and report on the security of bore heads
Three Waters and Waste
Recommendations from the Havelock North Enquiry Stage 2 Report - 6 December 2017 In the Stage 2 Report the Enquiry made 51 recommendations which were wide ranging and included: • • • • • •
Abolishing the secure classification system for groundwater Encourage/mandate universal treatment Establish a single drinking water regulator Review the Drinking Water Standards New Zealand Create dedicated and aggregated drinking water suppliers Review Water Safety Plans; and many others.
The Director General of Health was encouraged to act swiftly on two of the recommendations that can be implemented under current Health legislation. Note: We are expecting a position on all recommendations to be made clear, later in 2018. This will be aligned with the current work being done by the D.I.A.. Three Waters and Waste
Response of the Drinking Water Assessor In response to the latest well head security assessment and the Director General of Health’s statement of 20 December 2017, on 22 December 2017 the Canterbury Drinking Water Assessor has revised the status of bores in Christchurch and has removed their secure status. “The reports from the bores inspected recently this year show that some bore heads do not meet the security criteria and therefore the security status for Christchurch and Brooklands Kainga is removed. This means that the supplies now are not able to demonstrate the protozoa requirements of section 5 of the Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand (DWSNZ) through demonstrating secure sources.” Drinking Water Assessor, 22 December, 2017
Three Waters and Waste
Well Head Security Improvements New well head installations are now above ground…
Christchurch City Council footer text
Steps to Comply with the DWSNZ The Drinking Water Standards of New Zealand (DWSNZ) requires a multiple barrier approach to minimise the risk of water contamination. The barriers can include: • Minimising the extent of contaminants in the source water that must be dealt with by the treatment process • Removing undesirable soluble and particulate matter • Disinfecting to inactivate any pathogenic organisms present • Protecting the treated water from subsequent contamination
Three Waters and Waste
Steps to Comply with the DWSNZ The requirements can be met by Christchurch by undertaking the following steps: • • • • • •
Return to secure bore status (upgrade of well heads in progress) Bacterial and protozoal protection (UV treatment at source) Residual disinfection (chlorination) Regular and frequent water quality testing (ongoing) Proactive backflow prevention management Strictly observed operations and maintenance procedures to prevent contamination • Implementation of approved and current Water Safety Plan
Three Waters and Waste
Interim Steps
At the Council Meeting on 25 January 2018, on the advice of the Medical Officer of Health, the Council passed a resolution to chlorinate the Christchurch water supply for up to 12 months while the work on improving well head security continued.
Three Waters and Waste
Regional Response
All Councils in the Canterbury Drinking Water Reference Group, who were formed in October 2016, have taken action in response to Havelock to either chlorinate, treat with UV light, or in the case of Kaikoura, still have 3 water supplies on boil water notices. Most have also made provision in their Long Term Plans for upgrades and treatment.
Three Waters and Waste
National Response
Government officials have prepared a Cabinet Paper that will be considered in mid-March on all 51 recommendations.
It seems likely that; • A National Regulator will be established • Secure bore status will be removed from the DWSNZ • Mandatory treatment with residual disinfection will be required • The standard required for exemption will be uneconomic • Recommendations likely by June 2018
Three Waters and Waste
Three waters and Waste
Phreatoicus typicus
Three waters and Waste
