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Otago Daily Times
30-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
'Embarrassing': Clutha's water breaches more than rest of NZ
A small Otago council has recorded more drinking water quality breaches than the rest of New Zealand combined, a damning report has revealed. The Water Services Authority report, publicly released yesterday, said it received 565 notifications in 2024 that drinking water was, or might be, unsafe. Clutha District Council was responsible for 338, or 59.8%, of the country's drinking water quality breaches. Mayor Bryan Cadogan said yesterday he could not ignore the report's findings. "They're embarrassing." The supply with the most E. coli notifications was Waitahuna Rural (24), which is owned by Clutha District Council and is on a permanent boil-water notice. In March 2023, the authority issued a direction to Clutha in response to aluminium levels breaching standards across five of the council's supplies. In January 2025, the council met the remaining requirements of the compliance order. Mr Cadogan said the council accepted responsibility for the "damning indictment", but it had been the after-effects of issues that had been ignored for decades. "So, in the 1970s, Clutha developed the most extensive water scheme in New Zealand for our size. We're the third-longest in New Zealand. It is Auckland, Christchurch, then Clutha. "So, what we've done is we've set up a council-run extensive water system supplying to virtually all our rural and all our towns. No-one else does it. "But the problem with that for us is that when you have council-run schemes, you have consent and you have to abide." The water supply was built for 1.2 million stock units across all the towns. "Unfortunately, that's a real problem now that system is no longer compliant with the New Zealand Water Standards. "The scheme was not only working 100% the way it was meant to, it's producing better water now than it has in all its lifetimes. "But unfortunately, it's like trying to turn a car into an aeroplane." It was only relatively recently the council started addressing the problems, Mr Cadogan said. "That's why our debt [has increased], because our council had no debt only five years ago. "We've got 150-odd-million dollars of debt and all the water plants that we've upgraded are about to be commissioned." Back in the 1970s, the government funded 50% of Clutha's new drinking water system, and struck similar deals with other councils, he said. In contrast, Clutha had needed to pay for all of the upgrades this time, Mr Cadogan said. "And that's why I am horrified at the rate rises that are coming through." "We're stuck with this dichotomy of having the third-longest water recirculation network in New Zealand behind Auckland and Christchurch ... and a population of 19,000." Water Authority head of operations Steve Taylor said it had been working with Clutha District Council to make improvements. "From the outset, Clutha District Council was open to engaging with the authority, sharing information, being honest about their challenges and responding to the directives issued by the authority. "It should also be noted that this report is for the year to December 2024 and considerable work has been completed by the council in the past six months. "We will continue to work closely with Clutha District Council as it addresses issues across its supplies." Clutha District had 13 distinct communities, all with water and sewage, Mr Cadogan said. "Within those 13 communities, there's 27 either water or sewage plants. "If you've got 30-year consent, that means you're doing up at least 27 plants over 30 years. You're basically doing up one a year." Each of those upgrades were in the vicinity of $5m to $20m, he said. Although the authority's report was tough reading, it noted there had been some improvement on last year — Clutha had 98 fewer breaches in 2024. "You just keep on going. It is never-ending. "So, the environmental expectations and the financial capacity and ability for communities like Clutha is really going to test people's ability to pay like never before."
Otago Daily Times
30-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Clutha had more water breaches than all NZ — Report ‘embarrassing': mayor
ODT GRAPHIC A small Otago council has recorded more drinking water quality breaches than the rest of New Zealand combined, a damning report has revealed. The Water Services Authority report, publicly released yesterday, said it received 565 notifications in 2024 that drinking water was, or might be, unsafe. Clutha District Council was responsible for 338, or 59.8%, of the country's drinking water quality breaches. Mayor Bryan Cadogan said yesterday he could not ignore the report's findings. "They're embarrassing." The supply with the most E. coli notifications was Waitahuna Rural (24), which is owned by Clutha District Council and is on a permanent boil-water notice. In March 2023, the authority issued a direction to Clutha in response to aluminium levels breaching standards across five of the council's supplies. In January 2025, the council met the remaining requirements of the compliance order. Bryan Cadogan. PHOTO: ODT FILES Mr Cadogan said the council accepted responsibility for the "damning indictment", but it had been the after-effects of issues that had been ignored for decades. "So, in the 1970s, Clutha developed the most extensive water scheme in New Zealand for our size. We're the third-longest in New Zealand. It is Auckland, Christchurch, then Clutha. "So, what we've done is we've set up a council-run extensive water system supplying to virtually all our rural and all our towns. No-one else does it. "But the problem with that for us is that when you have council-run schemes, you have consent and you have to abide." The water supply was built for 1.2 million stock units across all the towns. "Unfortunately, that's a real problem now that system is no longer compliant with the New Zealand Water Standards. "The scheme was not only working 100% the way it was meant to, it's producing better water now than it has in all its lifetimes. "But unfortunately, it's like trying to turn a car into an aeroplane." It was only relatively recently the council started addressing the problems, Mr Cadogan said. "That's why our debt [has increased], because our council had no debt only five years ago. "We've got 150-odd-million dollars of debt and all the water plants that we've upgraded are about to be commissioned." Back in the 1970s, the government funded 50% of Clutha's new drinking water system, and struck similar deals with other councils, he said. In contrast, Clutha had needed to pay for all of the upgrades this time, Mr Cadogan said. "And that's why I am horrified at the rate rises that are coming through." "We're stuck with this dichotomy of having the third-longest water recirculation network in New Zealand behind Auckland and Christchurch ... and a population of 19,000." Water Authority head of operations Steve Taylor said it had been working with Clutha District Council to make improvements. "From the outset, Clutha District Council was open to engaging with the authority, sharing information, being honest about their challenges and responding to the directives issued by the authority. "It should also be noted that this report is for the year to December 2024 and considerable work has been completed by the council in the past six months. "We will continue to work closely with Clutha District Council as it addresses issues across its supplies." Clutha District had 13 distinct communities, all with water and sewage, Mr Cadogan said. "Within those 13 communities, there's 27 either water or sewage plants. "If you've got 30-year consent, that means you're doing up at least 27 plants over 30 years. You're basically doing up one a year." Each of those upgrades were in the vicinity of $5m to $20m, he said. Although the authority's report was tough reading, it noted there had been some improvement on last year — Clutha had 98 fewer breaches in 2024. "You just keep on going. It is never-ending. "So, the environmental expectations and the financial capacity and ability for communities like Clutha is really going to test people's ability to pay like never before."
Scoop
30-06-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Report Reveals Water Unsafe To Drink At Many Schools
Water New Zealand says that children, their teachers and school support staff must be able to drink school supplied water without the risk of serious illness. Chief executive Gillian Blythe says it's clear that many rural schools have not had the training and support to manage their water supplies. She says this has been an ongoing issue that is now recognised by the Ministry of Education and is in the process of being addressed. A report just released by the Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai, has revealed that out of 418 schools that supply their own drinking water, 71 schools were found to have had in their water supply and 24 schools were found to have had repeated recurrences. The water regulator's latest annual drinking water quality report provides information on publicly supplied water from 1 January to 31 December 2024. More than half of self supplying schools don't have an identified plan to meet compliance requirements. Gillian Blythe says the Ministry of Education has recognised the need to upskill principals and school boards and has taken steps to ensure training is available. 'The Ministry has been working with us to ensure that staff and trustees understand their obligations and have the skills required to provide safe drinking water. 'As a result, principals and trustees are now being encouraged to upskill through Water New Zealand training material such as digital badges, particularly aimed at rural schools.' Schools are often used as community hubs or evacuation centres in emergencies. 'Ensuring schools are well equipped to supply safe water is crucial to minimise public health risk during an emergency.' For more information contact communications manager, Debra Harrington tel 027 202 8857.
RNZ News
30-06-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Risk of contamination in rural school water extremely high, report says
The report says the notifications concerned 71 schools, down from 81 in 2023. Photo: RNZ The Water Services Authority says the risk of contamination in many school water supplies is extremely high. It said it was particularly worried about the presence of E. coli in some schools' drinking water. The authority's Drinking Water Regulation Report for 2024 said 71 schools reported at least one instance of faecal contamination of their drinking water last year. It said that put children at increased risk and school water supplies were a priority area for the authority. "The Authority has made our expectations clear to the Ministry of Education (MOE) to take action to address underlying causes and ensure safer drinking water is provided to children at these schools. We have seen some improvements, but this is a continuing priority area for the Authority," it said. The report said the Education Ministry was responsible for 418 schools that supplied their own drinking water, most were in the North Island and were in rural or remote locations. "The risk to drinking water quality at many self-supplied schools is extremely high, demonstrated by high incidences of water contamination. In 2024, 59 percent of laboratory notifications of E. coli were about self-supplied schools," it said. The report said the notifications concerned 71 schools, down from 81 in 2023. It said 24 schools "had repeat exceedances of E. coli indicating that issues are not being resolved in a way that prevents recurrence." In addition, testing of 145 schools with roof water sources found two had "exceedances" for lead, and one for copper, and one self-supplied school twice exceeded nitrate levels. The report said schools and the ministry needed to do more. "Although most self-supplied schools have bacterial treatment barriers in place, the high numbers of E. coli detections indicate that many of these barriers are likely not being operated or maintained effectively," the report said. It said the ministry had been progressing work to install treatment barriers in 17 self-supplied schools. The report said at one school a UV treatment unit had been accidentally turned off. "At the end of 2024, eight of the schools have now met treatment barrier requirements, and eight of the remaining nine have plans for installation or an alternative solution by December 2025," it said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Newsroom
30-06-2025
- Health
- Newsroom
Faecal contamination of drinking water at 71 schools
The Water Services Authority has warned the Ministry of Education it must take action to ensure safer drinking water is provided to children at school. Three out of every five of the country's lab notifications about E coli last year were about self-supplied schools, most of them in rural areas of the North Island. One school, the 110-strong Te Waha o Rerekohu Area School on the very tip of the East Coast, had 11 E coli notifications. That school has now upgraded its treatment plant and been able to lift its long-term 'do not drink' advisory – but others are still contaminated. 'The risk to drinking water quality at many self-supplied schools is extremely high,' says the authority, Taumata Arowai. Ōpiki School south of Palmerston North, which supplies 140 pupils and staff, had eight E coli notifications last year. Other schools to repeatedly exceed safe E coli levels in their drinking water were Aranga School, He Puna Ruku Matauranga o Whangaruru, Horeke School, Kairanga School, Kaitoke School in Claris, Linkwater School, Mangawhai Beach School, Matakohe School, Mokoia Primary School, Muriwai School, Ngata Memorial College, Okiwi School, Otaua School, Ouruhia Model School, Paparimu School, Pokuru School, Tapu School, Tautoro School, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Waiu o Ngāti Porou, Te Paina School, Totara North School, and Umawera School. As well as the E coli cases, samples from 145 school roof water sources found two schools had high lead levels, and one had high copper levels. And it's not just state schools that aren't meeting standards: among those that failed to provide reports was the 800-pupil/staff Christ's College in Christchurch, reportedly the country's most expensive private school. This morning the school's operations general manager Haydn Randall said he was not aware of the reporting requirements. The school does test its water supply, he said, but he wasn't immediately able to confirm its compliance with E coli or chemicals standards. 'This year, we're moving from our own bore beside the Avon River, onto the council's potable water system, because we have to anyway,' Randall said. 'That is happening this year regardless, but just as a matter of compliance.' School drinking water contamination Four out of five schools where E coli was detected last year were in the North Island, and all the schools where chemicals exceeded limits. Source: Taumata Arowai Taumata Arowai, in its annual Drinking Water Regulation Report, says it's 'particularly concerned' by the number of E coli exceedances at schools that supply their own drinking water, as this places children at increased risk. In 2024, 71 schools reported at least one incidence of E coli – meaning there was faecal contamination of their drinking water, the report says. Twenty-four schools had repeat exceedances. 'The authority has made our expectations clear to the Ministry of Education to take action to address underlying causes and ensure safer drinking water is provided to children at these schools. We have seen some improvements, but this is a continuing priority area for the authority.' About one in five state schools supply their own drinking water. These schools are often in rural or remote locations, the report says, and about 81 percent are in the North Island. 'The risk to drinking water quality at many self-supplied schools is extremely high, demonstrated by high incidences of water contamination,' the report continues. This is a slight decrease in total notifications from 2023, where E coli notifications affected 81 school supplies, and 29 schools had repeat exceedances. But other water suppliers, like councils, the Defence Force and Corrections, have dramatically improved their compliance – schools are notable in their failure to do so. Some schools had water safety advisory notices (such as 'boil water' or 'do not drink' advisories) in places for long periods. Schools managed by the Ministry of Education accounted for nearly half of temporary consumer advisories. 'Most of these are due to E coli detections at self-supplied schools,' the report says. 'Consumer advisories are an acceptable short-term measure to manage public health risks at schools, but not a suitable long-term solution.' These long-running advisory notices are increasingly futile. Research shows ther's a steep drop-off in consumer compliance with boil water notices. The ministry has been told to shift schools onto council water supplies where possible. Failing that, it has to improve understanding of drinking water safety at those schools, improve monitoring and reporting of drinking water quality, and identify where it should improve the water infrastructure. Taumata Arowai chief executive Allan Prangnell says the drinking water and wastewater reports shine a light on issues facing many rural schools. 'The Ministry will need to work at pace over the next 12 months to address any outstanding and emerging treatment issues and oversee a rapid lift in capability.' So who's responsible for the drinking water at self-supplied state schools? The ministry and the schools have shared duties as drinking water suppliers, the report says. 'Schools are responsible for the day-to-day management of the supply,' it explains. 'The ministry supports schools to manage their drinking water supplies through the provision of training, guidance and support, and allocation of funding for capital works. Taumata Arowai says it's working closely with the ministry to ensure a range of proportionate pathways are available to schools to comply with the new law. 'We are also working with the ministry to ensure that a proportionate approach is taken at each school, and that schools with the highest risk are prioritised first for upgrades.' It says the ministry has been progressing work to install treatment barriers in 17 self-supplied schools. At the end of 2024, eight of the schools had met treatment barrier requirements, and eight of the remaining nine had plans for installation or an alternative solution by December 2025. Thirty-six percent of self-supplied state schools had lodged a drinking water supply plan, compared with 13 percent in 2023. This leaves about 55 percent of schools without an identified compliance pathway. Jerome Sheppard, the ministry's chief executive for school property, says 444 schools self-supply their own drinking water, nationwide, with a further 16 connected to small local supplies. 'These systems are often located in remote areas and can vary in age and condition,' he says. 'All schools currently have water treatment in place to ensure safe drinking water.' Over the next 12 months the ministry is focusing on critical compliance and safety activities through its dedicated water services programme. An urgent response process is in place for any school that fails a regular water quality test. This includes an immediate 'do not drink' advisory, rapid provision of an alternative safe water source, such as bottled or tanker-supplied water, and promptly identifying the cause and repairing the problem. Sheppard says the Ministry has agreed a strategic approach with Taumata Arowai to address long-standing issues in self-supplying schools. Eighty schools with the highest need have been identified through water testing and site inspections, and a pilot programme has already upgraded 10 of the highest-risk schools. A further twelve upgrades underway in the Far North, Te Tai Tokerau. A dedicated water services team provides ongoing support to schools for maintenance, regular water quality testing, and compliance reporting, Sheppard adds. Prangnell says the publication of the Drinking Water Regulation Report and Network Environmental Performance Report (on wastewater) shows that almost 4 million out of the 4.4 million people served by registered drinking water supplies now have access to drinking water with critical safety barriers. 'This includes some suppliers that have reported the installation of barriers since the end of last year, and we know that more are on track to implement them during 2025,' he says. 'We expect next year's report to show a step change in the number of supplies with basic treatment in place.'
