Queenstown’s Two Mile UV filter has been installed and is awaiting sign-off from regulator Taumata Arowai.
Subject to that, the ‘boil water’ notice part of the Whakatipu has had to adhere to since September 18, may be lifted tomorrow.
The notice followed several confirmed cases of the protozoa cryptosporidium and initially covered all properties serviced by Queenstown council’s supply from Sunshine Bay to Frankton, Hanley’s Farm and Kelvin Heights.
Ultimately, more than 60 cases were confirmed, though it’s never been confirmed it was spreading through the water.
Queenstown mayor Glyn Lewers: ‘‘We continued testing all through the boil water notice, and we’ve never actually had a positive test for cryptosporidium in the water.’’
While the notice was lifted for Kelvin Heights, Frankton and Hanley’s Farm on October 5, it’s remained in place everywhere else.
Lewers confirms the UV reactors have now been installed and are fully operational, all live network reservoirs have been inspected and cleaned and he expected to finish flushing the local network yesterday.
Lewers says the all-up cost of the temporary fix, its permanent replacement — being made overseas — and upgrades to the west Wānaka, already half-finished, and Luggate plants is about $10.8 million — the Two Mile UV filter’s come in about $1.4m, he says.
‘‘We’re looking at getting them all done before June, 2024.’’
There are two intakes which will be deferred, including Glenorchy — that’s because it’s a bore-water source, meaning the council’s got more time to sort it out.
While Lewers appreciates it’s been ‘‘a right annoyance’’, there is a silver lining to being ‘‘the first mover in the country’’.
‘‘We’ve pretty much taken all the UV disinfection out of the market.
‘‘Other councils will be paying [premiums] because the regulator put a letter out [saying] any surface-water intake, a protozoa barrier has to be installed by [the end of] 2024 — that’s 26 councils.
‘‘They [the regulator] have put an enormous strain on the market, the water service industry and the supply chain.
‘‘There’s only one way price points is going to go, and that’s up.’’
