Kaitaia Drinking Water Should Be Boiled

Northern Advocate, 12 October 1949, Page 5

Kaitaia Drinking Water Should Be Boiled

INSPECTOR WARNS

KAITAIA, Wed. (Sp.).—Recent samples from the Kaitaia water supply had, upon analysis, proved “very unsatisfactory as the result of pollution by wild pigs in the catchment area. This information was received from the Medical Officer of Health, Whangarei, by the Kaitaia Borough Council, which was advised that the chlorination of the supply would be necessary in order to make it fit for domestic purposes. A letter from the Health office de- Mr Snoad suggested the installation tailed that analysis showed a pre- of a constant feed gas chlorination sumptive baccilus count of 25 per 100 plantar the reservior intake and adc.c. and added that pollution by wild vised the council to seek the advice pigs appeared unavoidable. of an Auckland firm specialising in Amplifying the report, the resident this class of work, health inspector (Mr J. B. Snoad) ac!- Fencing of the catchment area of vised the counci! that earlier samples some 2000 acres and the clearing of from the town water supply had prov- pigs from the area was not considered

ed highly contaminated. In a persona 1 inspection he had found the catchment area at Okahu over-run by wild pigs and evidence of pollution at the intake On .his department's instruction, the reservior had been cleaned and chlorThe reservior had been found badly Snated. in need of cleaning and subsequent samples had been o fsatisfactory standard.

Recent samples were again high in contamination and chlorination was now necessary to make the water fit •In'? human nnnsumptipru

practicable. The council authorised the DeputyMayor 'Cr F. Weber) to make personal inquiries concerning the proposed installation when in Auckland .at an early dste. In a statement later Mr Snoad commented that the presence of a count of more than 10 baccilus per 100 c.c. of water was most unsatisfactory. The Kaitaia count of 25 per 100 c.c. made the water deflinitely unfit for human consumption. ••All water should be boiled before beiiijg drunk,” he slated, in a warning frvi.- thb« henefit of .iJaUaia,