RNZ
A toxicologist says the public should ve been told immediately about the high levels of lead in the water in the Otago towns of Karitane and Waikouaiti. (Video first published February 3).
Three Otago communities currently on a no-drink notice following a lead contamination to their water supply will receive some relief in the form of new water tanks. The Dunedin City Council (DCC) has yet to identify the source of the contamination that left residents in Waikouaiti, Karitane and Hawksbury Village unable to drink tap water until further notice. The council announced on Wednesday it would begin deploying 5000 litre static water tanks at nine locations.
Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton
Yesterday, people in Waikouaiti and Karitane were told to stop drinking, cooking and preparing food using tap water due to high levels of lead.
The council said yesterday that the levels were discovered in mid-December but the alert went to a Dunedin City Council staff member who was on holiday and they weren t picked up until the new year. Today, it said the first time elevated levels of lead were recorded was in August, 2020.
While many are resigned to their new water collection, frustration and anger are bubbling away over communication delays that left residents in the dark for weeks.