Residents encouraged to have their wells tested for nitrates to ensure levels are safe
By David Hill, local democracy reporter
Private well testing in the Waimakariri district has found there are no wells above the national standard for nitrate levels.
But a report prepared by Waimakariri District Council water environment adviser Sophie Allen found several wells had nitrate concentrations exceeding the limit set in Plan Change 7 of the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan.
"We are continually finding the wells we are testing in Eyreton and Cust are exceeding the limit set in Plan Change 7," Allen said at a recent utilities and roading committee meeting.
"It is about encouraging landowners to agree to have their wells tested."
The maximum acceptable value for nitrate-nitrogen was 11.3 milligrams per litre, set in the Drinking-water Standards for New Zealand (2022).
But overseas studies have suggested that level is too high.
This prompted the Waimakariri Zone Committee to recommend a median value of half of the maximum acceptable value of 5.65 mg/L, which has been set as a target in Plan Change 7.
The council began testing wells in 2019, after concerns were raised by the zone committee, and as now testing about 40 private wells each year.
While the well testing was voluntary, changing national standards meant it could become the council’s responsibility to act on unsafe drinking water in private wells in the future.
The property owners took the samples themselves, usually in the spring, and sent them to the council for testing.
It meant there was no consistency, as some property owners sent in multiple samples, while others chose not to send any.
Environment Canterbury has also been testing private wells throughout the region.
The committee's chairperson, councillor Niki Mealings, encouraged private well owners to submit to testing.
"It is not the end of the world if the numbers come back not great, but it means there are things you need to do to ensure your water source is safe."
Councillor Paul Williams questioned if more could be done to bring newly subdivided properties on to council controlled water supplies.
Three Waters manager Kalley Simpson said new property owners were offered the option of going on to a council supply wherever possible.
"Where it is not a requirement to be on a council supply, they are entitled to put in an individual bore.
"There is value for developers in their marketing to advertise that there is potential to have their water connected to a council supply."
A council booklet was also included in LIMS reports explaining the ongoing maintenance required for private water supplies.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
Here's Friday's Fizzler!
I can be written, I can be spoken, I can be exposed, I can be broken. What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
Drivers get where they need to go, but sometimes it seems that we are all abiding by different road rules (for example, the varying ways drivers indicate around a roundabout).
Do you think drivers should be required to take a quick driving theory test every 10 years?
Vote in the poll and share any road rules that you've seen bent! 😱
-
48.2% Yes
-
49.8% No
-
1.9% Other - I'll share below
Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
Loading…
