Chlorine recommended for Queenstown

Press, 25 July 1985, Page 39

Chlorine recommended for Queenstown

Queenstown correspondent The Queenstown water supply should be permanently’ chlorinated. Lake County Council has been advised by its engineers Chlorine was introduced into the resort's water supply late last year as a temporary, precautionary measure after an outbreak of contamination in October, 1984. As a result of this infection, both the Lake County Council and Queenstown Borough Council have sought much advice and comment from various sources on the chlorination of the water supply. Now, nine months after the outbreak, there is still some public concern regarding a recurrence of the

previous pollution and the necessity to chlorinate the supply permanently. The Lake County Council has been advised by its engineers, Duffil Watts and King, that neither local body affected has any alternative but to chlorinate if they are to meet their legislative and health requirements. To not do this, would leave themselves open to attack on the ground of negligence, the engineers said. It was accepted that some people noticed and objected to the presence of chlorine in drinking water, but unpleasant tastes disappeared in time. The nearby Frankton Peninsula water supply sys-

tern, which was expected to be commissioned soon, would lessen the load on the present intake pumps and chlorination equipment, the engineer’s report said. The report emphasised that the permanent use of chlorine should not relax proper monitoring in any way, and regular inspections were to be made at set locations. The engineers believed an awareness of recent research and development into the sterilisation of public water supplies must be maintained in search of any "improvements or alternatives." The council has agreed to all of the engineers' recommendations.