Boil water notice lifted

Last updated 15:11 08/04/2011

 

LATEST: The boil water notice for Christchurch, Lyttelton and Banks Peninsula has today been lifted.

The announcement was made at the Civil Defence briefing this afternoon at the Christchurch Art Gallery.

Christchurch residents have had to boil all water since the February 22 eathquake.

Medical officer of health Dr Alistair Humphrey said the Canterbury District Health Board was satisfied Christchurch tap water was now safe to drink without boiling.

Humphrey said clear results from extensive sampling of the water supply throughout coupled with satisfactory chlorine levels in the central and eastern parts of the city meant the boil water notice could be lifted.

"We advise people to stop drinking water sourced from tankers and revert to their tap water. Our testing programme has not included private wells and bores, so we advise people accessing drinking water from these sources to organise on-going private testing," Humphrey said.

The Christchurch City Council will be removing water tankers, with the exception of some areas still within the cordon.

Humphrey said despite no longer needing to boil the water, residents were being urged to conserve water.

"The Christchurch water supply and waste water infrastructure is still delicate and we need to avoid putting undue pressure on it."