UNTE What's happening in your community... An update about water, new regulations, and chlorine The new drinking water regulator Taumata Arowal took over from the Ministry of Health in November 2021 signaling a new era for water safety standards. Under the new rules, all public supplies are required to have treatment such as ultraviolet (UV) at the headworks, but also a residual disinfectant in water that leaves the plant. All suppliers of water need to have a Drinking Water Safety Plan (DWSP) in place as well as residual disinfectant, such as chlorine- unless awarded an exemption The Council believes our District has water of the highest quality and therefore we have submitted six applications seeking exemptions from having to use chlorine in our urban supplies of Rangiora, Kalapoi, Woodend-Pegasus, Oxford Urban, Cust and Waikuku Beach Having secure and safe water is important for the health of our community and we want to meet the challenge of new regulations. The Council met with Taumata Arowai officials. including their Chief Executive, on two occasions to reiterate our programme of investment and the fact our residents want to have unchlorinated water. The regulator listened and while we are waiting for our applications to be assessed, Taumata Arowai has allowed the Council to continue running unchlorinated water supplies on the basis that more regular testing is undertaken and a programme of work is brought forward, which will increase the safety of supply. A key part of this decision was also that the Council has emergency chlorination systems in place, which are ready and able to be used at a moment's notice. Despite being able to continue operating unchlorinated schemes without a residual disinfectant we are expected to use emergency- chlorine in response to even low-level detections of organic material - as we have recently experienced in Kalapol and Woodend As well as planned and budgeted UV upgrades. we are also undertaking a programme of reservoir upgrades across the District. To allow these upgrades to take place in a safe manner, chlorine will need to be used. This means for schemes such as Kalapoi and Woodend, chlorine will remain until upgrades are completed approximately July, or sooner if possible. Residents have been clear that they do not want chlorinated water and the Council is doing everything we can to ensure that happens. However, the decision to chlorinate or not will be decided by Taumata Arowai's assessment of our applications. What makes this process challenging is that there are no clear pass/fail criteria established. As a Council we respect that this is a new process, with a new regulator, interpreting new regulations and it will take time to work through. WAIMAKARIRI DISTRICT COUNCIL The required increased testing, and fast-tracking of UV treatment projects already underway does not guarantee a successful outcome of the exemption process. We will let you know when we have updates about each chlorinate application Waimakariri is one of the few areas nationwide that doesn't use chlorine and given this, it's not surprising that a lot of residents have questions about it. We have put together answers to some of the frequently asked questions at waimakariri.govt.nz/chlorination Drop-in sessions We will be hosting drop-in sessions so you can ask questions about this process and learn more about water supplies across the District. Kalapoi Tuesday 2 May, 6.30-8pm Kalapoi Borough School Hall, 20 Hilton Street, Kalapoi Rangiora Monday 8 May. 5-7pm Rangiora Service Centre Council Chambers Cust Monday 1 May, 5-7pm Cust Community Centre Woodend Wednesday 3 May, 6-8pm Woodend Community Centre All lids and tops belong in the bin. Even if it's a plastic type 1, 2 or 5, please don't put them in the recycling bin. rethink rubbish rethinkrubbish.co. Regeneration Huria Reserve Planting Day Saturday 15 April 10am NCF Park, Courtenay Drive-parking off Bowler St. Come down and trip in plare some lovely native plas including harahe hohen kan We will have a coffee cart on ute and you can graba free sausage from the BBQ For more information contact Hannah Rose White Landscape Architect Phone: 0800 965 458 0800 WMK COV A Heritage and Mahing FREE ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES Come along to our classes to improve your speaking, listening and grammar skills through a range of interesting topics! WA Every Saturday, 22 April-17 June 2023 10am-7pm Rangiora Town Hall Function Room 305 High Street, Rangiora Enrol Now Julie Cloughley | Tutor Email cloughohotmail.com Phone: 027 405 8245 waimakariri.govt.nz UNTE What's happening in your community ... An update about water , new regulations , and chlorine The new drinking water regulator Taumata Arowal took over from the Ministry of Health in November 2021 signaling a new era for water safety standards . Under the new rules , all public supplies are required to have treatment such as ultraviolet ( UV ) at the headworks , but also a residual disinfectant in water that leaves the plant . All suppliers of water need to have a Drinking Water Safety Plan ( DWSP ) in place as well as residual disinfectant , such as chlorine unless awarded an exemption The Council believes our District has water of the highest quality and therefore we have submitted six applications seeking exemptions from having to use chlorine in our urban supplies of Rangiora , Kalapoi , Woodend - Pegasus , Oxford Urban , Cust and Waikuku Beach Having secure and safe water is important for the health of our community and we want to meet the challenge of new regulations . The Council met with Taumata Arowai officials . including their Chief Executive , on two occasions to reiterate our programme of investment and the fact our residents want to have unchlorinated water . The regulator listened and while we are waiting for our applications to be assessed , Taumata Arowai has allowed the Council to continue running unchlorinated water supplies on the basis that more regular testing is undertaken and a programme of work is brought forward , which will increase the safety of supply . A key part of this decision was also that the Council has emergency chlorination systems in place , which are ready and able to be used at a moment's notice . Despite being able to continue operating unchlorinated schemes without a residual disinfectant we are expected to use emergency chlorine in response to even low - level detections of organic material - as we have recently experienced in Kalapol and Woodend As well as planned and budgeted UV upgrades . we are also undertaking a programme of reservoir upgrades across the District . To allow these upgrades to take place in a safe manner , chlorine will need to be used . This means for schemes such as Kalapoi and Woodend , chlorine will remain until upgrades are completed approximately July , or sooner if possible . Residents have been clear that they do not want chlorinated water and the Council is doing everything we can to ensure that happens . However , the decision to chlorinate or not will be decided by Taumata Arowai's assessment of our applications . What makes this process challenging is that there are no clear pass / fail criteria established . As a Council we respect that this is a new process , with a new regulator , interpreting new regulations and it will take time to work through . WAIMAKARIRI DISTRICT COUNCIL The required increased testing , and fast - tracking of UV treatment projects already underway does not guarantee a successful outcome of the exemption process . We will let you know when we have updates about each chlorinate application Waimakariri is one of the few areas nationwide that doesn't use chlorine and given this , it's not surprising that a lot of residents have questions about it . We have put together answers to some of the frequently asked questions at waimakariri.govt.nz/chlorination Drop - in sessions We will be hosting drop - in sessions so you can ask questions about this process and learn more about water supplies across the District . Kalapoi Tuesday 2 May , 6.30-8pm Kalapoi Borough School Hall , 20 Hilton Street , Kalapoi Rangiora Monday 8 May . 5-7pm Rangiora Service Centre Council Chambers Cust Monday 1 May , 5-7pm Cust Community Centre Woodend Wednesday 3 May , 6-8pm Woodend Community Centre All lids and tops belong in the bin . Even if it's a plastic type 1 , 2 or 5 , please don't put them in the recycling bin . rethink rubbish rethinkrubbish.co . Regeneration Huria Reserve Planting Day Saturday 15 April 10am NCF Park , Courtenay Drive - parking off Bowler St. Come down and trip in plare some lovely native plas including harahe hohen kan We will have a coffee cart on ute and you can graba free sausage from the BBQ For more information contact Hannah Rose White Landscape Architect Phone : 0800 965 458 0800 WMK COV A Heritage and Mahing FREE ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES Come along to our classes to improve your speaking , listening and grammar skills through a range of interesting topics ! WA Every Saturday , 22 April - 17 June 2023 10 am-7pm Rangiora Town Hall Function Room 305 High Street , Rangiora Enrol Now Julie Cloughley | Tutor Email cloughohotmail.com Phone : 027 405 8245 waimakariri.govt.nz