July 04, 2018
Mahuta looks to UK example for new water management system
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta is off to Ireland, Scotland and England to see how they run their water systems.
It’s part of a review of the ‘Three Waters’ system, which includes the interconnected drinking water, waste water and storm water systems.
The review came out of the inquiry into the Havelock North campylobacter outbreak which made 5000 people sick and was associated with four associated deaths after an aquifer was contaminated.
Ms Mahuta says New Zealand has a system wide problem that will need a system wide, collaborative solution.
Figures released last week show that one in five New Zealanders are drinking water from water supplies that don’t meet current drinking water standards.
Ms Mahuta says meeting the recommendations of the Havelock North inquiry nationally could cost drinking water suppliers between $300 million and $600 million, and upgrading waste water infrastructure will cost a great deal more.
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