Mark Bourne: Watercare Chief Operations Manager on the investigations into elevated levels of arsenic in the Waikato River

Test results reveal drinking water in Waipā and Waikato District has slightly elevated arsenic levels - and Auckland's supply is back within safe levels.

Auckland's Watercare and Hamilton City Council yesterday revealed levels were fractionally above the maximum amount in recent samples from Waikato River.

Watercare's Chief Operations Manager Mark Bourne says they're tracking down the cause. 

"We've been able to share our results with the other agencies further up the river - and that'll help identify where, when and what might be causing this."

Watercare says tap water is still safe to drink.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now more water testing has been done after elevated levels
of arsenic were found in the Waikattle River yesterday. This
of course affects the water in Auckland and also in
Hamilton water Is the authorities tell us still safe to drink,
arsenic levels are only slightly above the maximum acceptable value,
and Mark bourne Is water Cares, chief operations officer with
US now, hoy Mark.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Hey, good afternoon.

Speaker 1 (00:20):
The results you've got today still showing it's safe to drink?

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Yes, yes they are. In fact, we're just about to
share some good news but a little bit more widely
with the public. We just received the day's result and
for Auckland the result now is down and back within
the allowable limits for the drinking water standards.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
When did you guys realize the first time that the
water levels at the arsenic levels are a little too high?
How long has it been like this?

Speaker 2 (00:49):
We've got our result on the twenty sixth of in
the afternoon of the twenty sixth and we immediately communicated
that result with Tamata Rawi and then in the following morning,
once we validated that result, we then got straight on
the telephone to talk to the other users up and

(01:11):
down the river to see whether anyone else was experiencing
the similar results that we were getting, and at that
point we're able to confirm that there are other parties
seeing these very unusual results.

Speaker 1 (01:21):
Okay, so you found out afternoon of Tuesday. You told
everybody else Wednesday morning, that's yesterday morning. When did you
tell us?

Speaker 2 (01:32):
There? Was very important. Once we identified that there were
a number of agencies seeing those things, we thought it
was very important that a coordinated and concise message went
out to the public. We really didn't want to confuse
people by different people saying different things, so we thought
it was very important that a coordinator result that came out.
So it was yesterday evening when a release was made

(01:52):
publicly available and we were able to update our website
with all the relevant information.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
Mark, did you do it because the rumors were already
out on social media that there was arsenic in the water.

Speaker 2 (02:03):
I'm not aware of any rumors that were out. No,
we did it as soon as we're able to. As
I said, it's really important to have a concise and
coordinator response because we really wanted to eliminate that confusion
that might be out there if everyone's talking differently.

Speaker 1 (02:19):
Yeah, I reckon it's slightly problematic. Don't you think it's
slightly problematic that we didn't know from you guys when
you guys had known for what it seems like a
day and a half.

Speaker 2 (02:29):
No, I don't think that's the case at all. I
think it's really important to remember that there was never
any acute public health risk. I think we can take
reassurance by the guidance provided by both the Water Service
Authority and National Public Health Service.

Speaker 1 (02:42):
I'll tell you because you obviously didn't know what was
going on social media yesterday, but I was getting texts
from people asking me what's up with the rumors about
arsenic in the water that was coming through at five
o'clock in the afternoon, two hours and two and a
half hours before you went public with it. Somebody went
on social media and said that her stepmum's boss was
telling them that there's nick in the water. Is somebody
else's I don't know, auntie or something. The rumors had

(03:03):
spread so widely that some supermarkets were already selling out
of water hours before you even went public with it.

Speaker 2 (03:11):
As I say, I really can't comment on things I
don't know about. No, No, it wasn't aware. I mean,
my responsibility clearly is as chief operations officer to do
my diligent best to ensure the water remains safe to
drink for Aucklander's.

Speaker 1 (03:24):
Okay, have you figured out what caused it?

Speaker 2 (03:27):
No, we haven't. We're working very very closely out to say,
with all the agencies involved, and in particular with the
way Kato Regional Council. They are undertaking a range of
test results today up and down the river. We've been
able to share our results with the other agencies further
up the river and that'll help identify where, when and

(03:48):
what might be causing this.

Speaker 1 (03:49):
All right, Hey, thanks very much, Mark appreciated. Mark Bourne,
chief Operations Officer at water Care.

Speaker 2 (03:54):
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