Sunday, 14 February 2021, 2:22 pm
Canterbury DHB Medical Officer of Health, Dr Cheryl
Brunton, says while the risk to people’s health is
believed to be low due to the large volume of water in the
reservoir, there is potential for people to develop gastro
illnesses if they drink water from the Akaroa reservoir
without first boiling it.
“While chlorine will kill
bacteria in the water supply, the possum and bird carcasses
may have introduced other contaminants (protozoa) which
aren’t killed by chlorine – they are, however, killed by
boiling your water,” Dr Brunton said.
Protozoa are
single cell organisms also known as parasites which include