Environment / Health

Otago locals meet to face officials over lead contamination

17:08 pm on 5 February 2021

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Prepare for a rude welcome - that's the message to Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins ahead of a meeting about toxic levels of lead being found in the drinking water of two coastal Otago towns.

People in Waikouaiti and Karitane were first told about high levels of lead in their water supply on Tuesday afternoon.

But there has been revelation upon revelation since then. Dunedin City Council has confirmed the December test results sat in an unmonitored inbox for weeks.

Toxic levels were first detected in the water back in August and one of the failed test results wasn't four times the allowable levels, it was almost 40 times.

A public meeting is being held tonight to discuss the health impacts of lead exposure, what officials know about the possible exposure so far and lead level blood testing clinics for next week.

Tess Brunton has been speaking to people in Waikouaiti and filed this story.