Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has issued a boil water notice (on Monday 18 September) for Queenstown and Frankton residents and businesses on a public supply.
This affects areas including Frankton, Quail Rise and Tucker Beach Rd, Kelvin Heights and Hanley’s Farm. Jack’s Point is a privately operated water supply and is not affected.
The notice was issued after eight cases of an illness caused by the protozoa, cryptosporidium. The Council is seeking to confirm the source of these cases and there is no confirmed link to the local water supply yet. However, on the basis of advice from NPHS Southern regarding the nature of symptoms related to cryptosporidium infection and the potential speed and ease of transmission the notice was issued.
Boiling water kills any microorganisms that could be present. In the locations outlined above people are advised to boil all their drinking water for at least one minute (or use bottled water) for the following uses:
- Drinking water – including cold beverages, ice-making and coffee machines.
- Food preparation – including washing uncooked foods such as salad, vegetables, and fruit.
- Washing food utensils.
More information can be found on the Taumata Arowai website: https://www.taumataarowai.govt.nz/for-communities/emergencies/, including information on using water for food and drink preparation (with key information pasted below):
- Can I use contaminated water for cooking? No, any water used for preparing food or cooking needs to be treated first by boiling or adding bleach.
- What if I’m boiling my water as part of the cooking process? It is safer to treat the water first (boil or add bleach) in case the water does not reach a high enough temperature during cooking.
- How do I prepare food and drinks? Fruit and vegetables should be washed using cooled, boiled water, water treated with plain unscented bleach or commercially bottled water. In cooking, it’s safer to boil the water first to prevent the potential for inadequate heating. Do not use ice, food or drinks that may have been made from contaminated tap water.
- Can I use my coffee machine, soda machine or ice maker? What about ice? Coffee machines, soda machines and ice makers that are connected to the water supply should not be used. Use boiled water, water treated with plain unscented bleach or commercially bottled water for making coffee, soda drinks or ice.
- I have a water filtration unit installed/ a container fitted with a filter. Does this make the water safe? No. Filtered water does not destroy bugs that can make people sick. Filtered water should be treated by boiling or adding bleach before using it for drinking, preparing food, cooking, making up infant formula, handwashing and cleaning teeth.
For information about cryptosporidiosis, including symptoms and treatment, visit https://healthed.govt.nz/products/cryptosporidium-and-giardia