Waikouaiti River, Otago.
Photo: Google Maps
A no-drink notice remains in effect in Waikouaiti, Karitane and Hawksbury Village after concerning levels of lead have been detected in the area s water supply over the past seven months.
The highest level recorded was almost 40 times the acceptable limit.
The vast majority of the area s about 1500 residents have been tested for blood-lead levels as a result.
RNZ revealed last month some people had returned blood-lead levels above the internationally-accepted safe level, including children.
An earlier public meeting on the lead in the water supply attracted hundreds of people.
The Dunedin City Council said this Friday s planned meeting had been postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions.
+Undoctored
Media release from the Southern DHB
Thursday 18 February 2021, 09:54 AM
1 minute to Read
Public Health South and the Dunedin City Council will report back their findings into potential lead contamination of the Waikouaiti Water Supply at a public meeting on Friday 5 March, it was confirmed today.
The meeting will be held at the East Otago Events Centre, Waikouaiti at 7pm .
The meeting will discuss the results of the blood tests that have taken place over the past few weeks.
The Dunedin City Council will also update the community on its investigations into potential causes of the elevated lead levels detected in the water supply, and the next steps.
A warning sign regarding the lead levels in water in East Otago.
Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton
Last night, the Southern District Health Board revealed unsafe lead levels have been detected in children s blood tests in east Otago in the wake of the lead contamination scare.
It follows the discovery earlier this month that traces of lead up to 40 times the acceptable level had been discovered in the water supply for people living in and around Waikouaiti, Karitane and Hawksbury Village.
Close to 1400 people had their blood lead tested last week.
While the turnaround for the results for residents is roughly 48 hours, the first opportunity to find out the community s blood test results will be during a public meeting on March 5 in Waikouaiti at the East Otago Events Centre.
Unsafe lead levels found in Otago children s blood
17 Feb, 2021 07:04 PM
2 minutes to read
Waikouaiti and Karitane residents have been told by the Dunedin City Council not to use tap water for drinking, cooking or preparing food. Photo / Stephen Jaquiery
RNZ
Unsafe lead levels have been detected in children s blood tests in east Otago.
This follows a contamination scare which has resulted in a do not drink notice and emergency water tankers.
Dunedin City Council says it may now be months before the notice is lifted for the residents of Waikouaiti, Karitane and Hawksbury Village.
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Some had tested at above the safe blood level , RNZ reported.
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