Residents in two coastal Otago towns are preparing to confront local authorities about toxic levels of lead discovered in their drinking water.
Ashleigh Barry from Waikouaiti says she's unsure if the lead caused her unborn child's kidney problems, which were discovered last month. (File image) Photo: 123RF
People in Waikouaiti and Karitane were first told about high levels of lead in their water supply on Tuesday afternoon.
But there's been revelation upon revelation since then - the 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.
Read more: How the lead contamination problem in east Otago unfolded
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.
Ashleigh Barry fell pregnant around the time she moved into her new house in Waikouaiti with her husband and their baby Hunter about six months ago.
She has been drinking the tap water the entire time.
"Obviously when you're pregnant, you go into a protective mode just wondering if your child is okay so it's just scary. I think a lot of parents around the area are just scared and worried," Barry said.
She was unsure if the lead caused her unborn child's kidney problems, which were discovered last month.
They couldn't find a suitable vein when she tried to get tested this morning.
So, she and her son Hunter are planning to go to the laboratory to get tested next week - as all of his formula bottles were prepared with tap water and he loves to swallow the water at bath time.
"Obviously, I'm going to go Google things, they say don't, but you do. Then you read things about lead and its effects on the brain and the kidneys in particular. It's just not reassuring and then to hear council and people speaking about it, talking it down, the seriousness of it. You just don't know what to think, you don't know if you're safe. I feel like pregnant women in particular - nobody's really addressed them specifically."
As one of the most at risks groups, Barry wants answers - not just for her family but for the other mums and pregnant women in the area.
She hopes that if anyone receives results with high lead levels, there will be support, immediate action and officials will stop saying the no-drink notice is only a precaution.
"If my child's kidney issues are in relation to lead then I don't know how I'm going to have any sort of easy time accepting that they down-talked it and downplayed the seriousness of it so much. So I just hope that if these results do show serious lead exposure, somebody will offer an apology or take what they said."
She wanted to go to tonight's meeting in Waikouaiti, but said that would depend on her son.
A warning sign about tap water in Karitane. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton
In a statement, Southern District Health Board Medical Officer of Health Susan Jack said: "We are very sorry to hear of this young mother's concerns for her baby, and understand the situation with the drinking water in Waikouaiti and Karitane will be especially worrying for her, and for all parents in the affected communities."
Public Health staff didn't provide clinical care or treatment for individuals and instead focused on population health issues, she said.
"We advise her to go straight to her LMC Midwife or GP for a full clinical assessment. She needs to be seen by a professional who can provide the personal clinical care that she and her baby require."
Twice a day Marty collects water from a tanker in Waikouaiti for his work crew, going through 20 to 30 litres a day.
"It's been an inconvenience ... you've got guys working for us, you got to get water. It's hot. It's been hot and dry. It's just drinking water really. We bought jugs so we can boil water because we've got automatic boilers," Marty said.
He was appalled at how it had been handled, saying access to safe drinking water was integral to keeping a community going.
"I've got guys working for me that have just had babies ... their wives have been pregnant for the last nine months. One of our boys just had a baby and he's kind of a bit concerned about what does that mean now?"
Marty wanted more answers.
"It started in August surely six months later, five months later, they should know more than what they know now."
Karitane resident Nigel Stevenson said Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins was in for a rude welcome at tonight's meeting.
"Christchurch's earthquakes, Bob Parker, boots on the ground from day one, couldn't do enough. We've got the opposite thing going on ... We really want someone that's going to pull their socks up and get stuck in."
He said the council owed the communities an apology, and nothing so far had come close.
"Well I think unless you hear the words 'we're sorry', how can you interpret an apology from what's been released. There's nothing that even alludes to an apology. It alludes to damage control on behalf of the council. It seems like they're the enemy to the people at the moment. It's a them and us sort of situation."
Karitane and Waikouaiti residents can hear directly from Public Health South, the Dunedin Mayor, and the National Poisons Centre Director at the east Otago Events Centre from 7pm.
Blood tests
Free community clinics to test blood levels have been scheduled for next week for permanent residents of the towns.
They will take place in the East Otago Events Centre, Waikouaiti, from 9-12 February, with clinics at the following times:
- Tuesday 9 February: 2-5pm. Children will be prioritised.
- Wednesday 10 February: 9am - 12pm - Children will be prioritised. 12pm - 4pm.
- Thursday 11 February: 3pm - 7pm.
- Friday 12 February: 3pm - 7pm.
"By not drinking the water, we no longer believe there is an acute risk to residents. Our focus is now on looking to see whether there has been any long-term chronic exposure to lead. This will help us understand if there are concerns with the wider water supply, or whether the spikes in the readings have been a localised issue," Dr Susan Jack said.
"Chronic exposure to lead in adults can lead to symptoms including tiredness, memory and sleep problems, headaches, joint pains, as well as nausea, diarrhoea or constipation, stomach pains and weight loss. Lead toxicity can cause anaemia, kidney problems, neurological problems, higher blood pressure, and can have effects on reproductive functions.
"Children and babies may not show any symptoms of low-level exposure, but long-term exposure to lead can still be harmful to their development."