Update #1: Chlorination of water supply in Lower Hutt (12 April 2017)

Hutt City Council

People in Lower Hutt who normally receive unchlorinated drinking water may notice a slight smell and taste of chlorine in their water from this afternoon.

As part of routine water testing carried out on water from the Waterloo wellfield (Lower Hutt), a sample from a bore in the wellfield has returned a positive e-coli result.

It is important to note that this test is an indicator test and further testing is required to confirm any contamination. While this further testing is being carried out, chlorine will be added to the water supply for Lower Hutt as a precautionary measure. We’ll continue to chlorinate the water until we have clearance from Regional Public Health.

Other water quality tests taken at the same time have returned negative results.

The water already in pipes is safe to drink and there is no need to boil water.

The public artesian wells at Buick Street in Petone, and Dowse Square in central Lower Hutt remain open as a source of unchlorinated drinking water.

We’ll be carrying out tests on multiple samples at other reservoirs and points in the water network, and provide updates here as soon as those results come in (late tomorrow).

We've also got information on our website about this: huttcity.govt.nz