In the wake of the cryptosporidium outbreak in Queenstown, New Zealand’s water regulator, Taumata Arowai, released a list of council suppliers without protozoa barriers. Protozoa such as cryptosporidium and giardia can be spread through drinking water supplies and cause a public health issue.

With protozoa barriers already in place, Matamata-Piako District Council has side stepped being in the spotlight. Councils without protozoa barriers have been told by Taumata Arowai that they need to budget for their implementation by 30 June next year.

“While protozoa barriers aren’t an issue for us, meeting the new water standards is a challenge. We need to keep making improvements and that comes at a cost,” says Mayor Adrienne.

“Council wants to be financially prudent but we have to accept our new reality of having a water regulator. The higher water compliance standards that are now in place are there to ensure we continue to deliver safe drinking water. Continuing to invest means we’re also creating a water supply that has greater resilience. That’s not just about water quality, it’s also about creating alternative water sources that can help reduce the impact of water shortages or outages.”

According to Taumata Arowai, “no single barrier is effective against all sources of contamination” and Council uses a range of methods to ensure the delivery of safe drinking water to households across the district. For example, while chlorine is a highly effective treatment against bacteria and viruses, it is ineffective against protozoa pathogens.

Over recent years the district’s water treatment plants have had system upgrades where sensors now detect contaminant levels, and non-compliant water does not leave the water treatment plant. This may result in short periods of low water pressure or the occasional shut down to keep the district’s drinking water safe.

Addressing the need for a multi-barrier approach to protect drinking water supplies from contamination is the next challenge, and as Council prepares its next Long Term Plan it will consider the installation of UV treatment at some of the district’s treatment plants.