Waitahuna, Balmoral, Tuapeka East– Boil reminder & RWS project update

Council reminds people in Waitahuna and the Tuapeka East, Balmoral 1 and Balmoral 2 water schemes that a boil water notice and an aluminium advisory is in place.

About the boil water notice

This scheme is on a long-term boil water notice until the new Balmoral/Tuapeka Rural Water Scheme & Lawrence New Supply (previously known as the Greenfield Water Scheme Project) is commissioned.

Our Capital Projects team has been working with the various contractors to get closer to the final stages of implementing this project. While we initially anticipated completion by the end of this year, we unfortunately have encountered several challenges with the bore field and source water quality.

We are now targeting completion by the end of May 2025. However, it is important to note that after this phase, as part of fully commissioning the scheme we will need to flush the reservoirs and network of pipes to eliminate any non-compliant water from the network. Consequently, the boil water notice will remain in effect until all testing confirms the water quality is safe for consumption.

Council advices anyone using water from their tap for consumption (including teeth cleaning and food preparation such as washing fruit and vegetables) to boil it for 1 minute before it is used.

You can read our FAQs at www.cluthadc.govt.nz/boil-water-faqs

In Balclutha, you can fill up your clean containers with water at the public tap next to the helipad. In Lawrence, you can fill up your water bottles at the tap located at the back of the Lawrence Community Library, next to the diesel storage tank. The tap is available 24/7 for the public.

About the aluminium advisory

An advisory is in place after a drinking water sample has returned results with an aluminium level exceeding the drinking water standard of 1mg/L.

The most recent exceedances on this scheme were from samples taken at the Waitahuna Water Treatment Plant (1.10 mg/L), Tuapeka East Link Road (1.08 mg/L), and Balmoral 1 Skinner Road (1.11 mg/L) on 16 October 2024.

Due to a lack of automation and control at the Waitahuna Water Treatment Plant it is expected that this advisory notice will remain in place until such time as the Greenfield Bore Supply is commissioned.

The advice received is that no health effects would be expected at these levels of aluminium exposure, even if water was consumed over extended periods of time. This includes effects for people with kidney disease, infants, and children.

You can read more about the water advisory by visiting Council's frequently asked questions page.

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