Independent experts have been appointed to the government's rapid review into lead contamination in east Otago's drinking water.
Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says the experts appointed have extensive knowledge of drinking water regulation and public health. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
Waikouaiti, Karitane and Hawksbury Village residents haven't been able to drink or cook with their tap water for the past 10 days.
Today, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield confirmed Dr Heather Uwins-England and Dr Jill McKenzie would undertake the review into the health system response.
"Dr Uwins-England, who will lead the review, and Dr McKenzie both have extensive knowledge of drinking water regulation and public health and will be able to look at the health response from an independent point of view."
The review will include:
- analysis of the water testing results
- actions taken in response to the lead readings
- when and what information was passed on to relevant organisations and / or authorities
- appropriateness and timeliness of how the relevant information was disseminated
- what levers/powers within the current regulatory system were/are being used to address this situation
- recommendations for changes that could be undertaken immediately or that need to be considered as part of the wider regulatory changes currently being considered
- provide advice on any other matters that may be relevant arising from this review.
It will also inform the 3 Waters reforms and is expected to be completed in March.
More than 1000 people have had their blood tested for lead with many residents recording detectable but low levels of lead.
The Dunedin City Council (DCC) confirms the latest batch of 80 water test results show lead levels are either below the acceptable limits or detectable limits.
Six results that detected lead levels below the acceptable limits came from a sample site in Edinburgh Street, where the council has begun a $6 million project to replace 5km of old cast-iron water pipe containing lead joins.
DCC 3 Waters group manager Tom Dyer said the results highlighted the intermittent nature of the lead spikes.
"This is a reassuring result but by no means allows us to relax. DCC staff are still working extremely hard to get to the bottom of this issue and resolve it."
The source of the contamination has yet to be confirmed.
Council staff will be running drop-in sessions at the East Otago Events Centre in Waikouaiti over the next two weeks, beginning on Tuesday, to answer any resident's questions.