Steve Taylor: Water Services Authority Head of Operations on elevated levels of arsenic being discovered in the Waikato river

Elevated levels of arsenic have been detected in the Waikato River, affecting water supplies in Auckland and Waikato.

The Government has been briefed this evening and sought assurances that water supplies are safe.

Authorities are carrying out further testing with results due back tomorrow.

Watercare is also rejigging the way it processes water to reduce the amount of arsenic in the city’s water supply but said there was no immediate concern to public health.

Steve Taylor, head of operations at Water Services Authority (WSA), told Newstalk ZB there had been increased levels of arsenic recorded in the Waikato River, affecting water supplies in Auckland and Hamilton.

He said there was “naturally a level of arsenic” in the river, but it had been notified levels had increased recently.

“I’m not sure what the reason for that increase is and that is affecting water supplies in Auckland and Hamilton,” he said.

He explained the maximum acceptable value for arsenic is 0.01mg a litre – an “incredibly low amount” – but they had seen levels around 0.013mg, which is “marginally above the acceptable value for drinking water”.

“The level of arsenic is above what we’ve described as a maximum acceptable value, but it’s not at a level that we would suggest has a significant health effect.

“There’s no health risk in drinking that water,” Taylor said.

“What we would expect is that those levels of arsenic would reduce over time.”

Elevated readings of arsenic have been recorded in the Waikato River. Photo / Waikato District Council.

Taylor said it is safe for people to keep drinking tap water.

“The key thing about the maximum acceptable value for arsenic is it’s designed for long-term exposure, so it’s not an acute level.

”Unlike some other levels, you know, if you exceed that level, it has an immediate health effect – that’s not the case with these levels.”

Taylor said the WSA was only notified of the elevated levels on Wednesday and it had been “a very short-term situation”.

”We’ve contacted the [Waikato] regional council to try and understand what is the reason for this change in source water,” he said.

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has been briefed on the issue this evening. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown said he had been briefed on the issue by the WSA this evening.

“I have asked the WSA to ensure that water suppliers in Auckland and Hamilton are taking appropriate steps, and that they communicate with their customers,” Brown said.

“The WSA is the lead agency for this issue and will be providing regular updates.”

Watercare reduces production at Waikato Water Treatment Plant

The Herald repeatedly sought comment from Watercare this afternoon and it responded shortly before 8pm, saying it had reduced production at its Waikato Water Treatment Plant since detecting the elevated result.

Watercare CEO Mark Bourne said the Waikato River supplies about 20% of Auckland’s drinking water.

”We treat the water at our Waikato Water Treatment Plant in Tūākau and distribute it throughout the metropolitan network.

”In most parts of Auckland, treated water from the Waikato River is blended with treated water from our dams. However, Pukekohe, Buckland, Clarks Beach/Waiau Pā, Patumahoe, Glenbrook Beach, and Drury south receive water solely sourced from the Waikato River.”

Bourne said Watercare had increased production at its major Ardmore plant, which treats water from four dams in the Hūnua Ranges.

“This extends the processing time at the plant, and we expect it to improve our ability to reduce the level of arsenic in the treated drinking water.

“We’re working closely with other agencies and will continue to share information as we learn more.”

The current minor exceedance of th

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Listen. We've been getting texts this afternoon suggesting that there's
a problem with the water in Auckland re arsenic levels.
Right now, we have Steve Taylor, head of operations at
Water Services Authority toe Mata away with us. Steve, Hello,
good evening. What's the situation.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
So we think nnified earlier today that they have done
some increase levels of our snake in the White Cuttle.
So you're probably the way that the White River source
water for a number of don't you want to supplies
and including parts Auckland Fork plant and also Hamilton.

Speaker 1 (00:33):
Okay, Steve, before you carry on, your phone line is
so dodgy it's almost impossible to hear you right now.
Is there? Is it possible that you can maybe move
into a better reception area or take your phone or
speakerphone or whatever it is that's causing the problem.

Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeah, sure, Is that any better?

Speaker 1 (00:47):
Marginally? Carry on? Okay? So what I've got from struggling
to hear that is that there is elevated levels of
arsenic in the White Cuttle River, which is the feeder
for Auckland and the White Cuttle's water.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
Right, that's great? Yes, So there are naturally elevated levels
or there is naturally a level of arsenakim like at
a river. What we've been notified of is that those
levels have increased recently. We're not sure what the reason
for that increases, and that is affecting water supplies in

(01:19):
Auckland and Hamilton. However, the level of arthenak is it's
above what we've described as a maximum acceptable value, but
it's not at a level that we would suggest as
a significant health effect.

Speaker 1 (01:37):
So the should people you to drink the water? If
the are in Hamilton or Orkland, should they drink the
water coming out of their taps?

Speaker 2 (01:44):
So there's no health risk in drinking that water. What
we would expect is that both levels of arsenic would
reduce over time. So the maximum acceptable value for arsenic
is zero point zero one mares a leader, which is

(02:05):
an incredibly low amount, with single levels at about zero
point zero one three, which is largely above big acceptable
value for drinking water. So we're encouraging Water Care and
Hamilton City Council to communicate creatively with these people in

(02:25):
those areas just ensure that people are aware that there
are elevated levels of arsenic and the drinking water. But
to be quite clear that this is not a significant
public colfores.

Speaker 1 (02:36):
Okay, Yes, well no, people keep drinking out of their taps,
absolutely fine, Yes, what about if they are in vulnerable
groups like maybe immunocompromise, pregnant little babies on bottles, older people.

Speaker 2 (02:48):
Yes, let's keep think about the maximum acceptable value for
arsenic as it's designed for long term exposure, so it's
not on acute level unlike some other levels. You know,
if you exceed that level that has an immediate ALP effect.
That's not the case with these levels.

Speaker 1 (03:05):
Okay, And how long has it been like this, Steve?

Speaker 2 (03:08):
So we're not afraid of elevated levels today. So it's
a very short term situation where we've contacted the regional
council to try and understand what is the reason for
this change and source water as to say temporary event,
is it's something a broader concern around the river itself

(03:32):
and we'll be getting updates from the Regional Council on
that as they find out more.

Speaker 1 (03:35):
And are you expecting because we've been trying to get
a hold of water Care for well over an hour
and now heard nothing, you expect them to actually pipe
up and say something.

Speaker 2 (03:43):
Well, I'd certainly expect them to communicate proactively, so impant
that people to understand what's in the water and if
there's any risk at all, and that's well communicated.

Speaker 1 (03:53):
Brilliant stuff, Steve Listen, thanks for your time, mate, appreciate that.
Steve Taylor, head of operations at Water Services Authority, took
about that otherwise. So just quick recap you so you
can drink the water that's coming out of your taps
if you're in Hamilton and Auckland, those are the affected
areas slightly slightly elevated levels of arsenic but as he
was saying, they normally would like it to be zero
point zero one milligrams per letter at zero point zero
one three, So it is okay and water Care needs

(04:16):
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