Chlorination of Punakaiki's water supply
Buller District Council will soon start to prepare the Punakaiki water supply for the introduction of chlorine to ensure that users will have a secure, safe and compliant source of drinking water.
The chlorination of Punakaiki's water supply
The Punakaiki water supply was designed in 1986 and is fed by Smiths Creek. Surface water sources such as Smiths Creek are prone to contamination from animal activity and runoff.
As a significant water supply, Punakaiki is required to meet drinking water legislative requirements. They are accompanied by Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules set by Taumata Arowai. Chlorination is required to meet these drinking water requirements.
Pipework and other water supply components have aged over time, leaving them at risk, especially during natural hazard events such as earthquakes.
Due to these vulnerabilities and the Punakaiki water supply’s large storage tanks, dosing with chlorine is necessary for compliance with the regulations, ensuring safe drinking water.
Chlorination is a legal requirement under the Water Services Act 2021, and no further consultation will be undertaken.
Timeframes will be communicated to the Punakaiki community as the project progresses. The main works will be scheduled to avoid the peak summer tourist season.
This chlorination is funded through Buller District Council’s Long Term and Annual Plans. It was initially planned for financial year 2022/23 but was carried over to 2024/25 to complete due to insufficient funds.
Council is aware that this will be a topic of interest for the Punakaiki community affected by the change; for some it might be an unwelcome development. Howecer, our priority is to provide safe drinking water for the community.
Punakaiki water's journey - from treatment plant to tap
Find answers to your questions
We understand Punakaiki residents will have questions about the chlorination process.
Have a read of our Frequently Asked Questions here. This information is also available in hard copy for collection from our Westport office.
This information will also be sent directly to impacted Punakaiki residents via email and letterbox drop.
We encourage residents to access this material and keep informed as the project progresses.
Those interested can also subscribe to project updates by signing up to Buller District Council’s email list by selecting the Punakaiki option.
Buller District Council thanks Punakaiki residents for their cooperation and patience during this process.
