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National | Dannevirke

Dannevirke main water supply currently unsafe to drink

The people of Dannevirke are being told to continue boiling their water, after multiple problems including a faulty valve connected to the town’s main water supply saw many people left without safe drinking water.

Manahi Paewai is fortunate to have a high quality water filtering system in his home, so he's filling bottles for his family.

He's been bringing his 94-year-old mother water, so she no longer has to drink the unsafe tap water.

Mother Edith Sainsbury says, “Before he bought this water, before he bought it I told him that I couldn't drink because I was feeling sick and I get a tummy ache.”

The Tamaki River is the main water supply to the whole town, but it is unsafe to drink and must be treated before drinking.

But due to serious problems with a broken valve and an unexpected blockage in the main water pipeline, the water taken from the river bypassed the town reservoir, meaning it couldn't be treated.

Blair King from the Tararua Council says, “We've cleared the blockage. It was done with contractors last night working in difficult conditions.”

However the council is not in the clear yet, as it undergoes a main pipeline flushing process to clear any untreated water.

Water tests will have to be carried out before the boil water notice can be lifted.