Tim Cadogan Warns Southland Councillors on Water Safety Risks

Tim Cadogan, a specialist from the water regulator Taumata Arowai, addressed Southland district councillors via video link from Wellington on Wednesday, sharing crucial insights into water safety and regulation. While Cadogan’s presentation was largely positive, it also highlighted significant concerns, including recent testing results that revealed 43 E coli notifications across New Zealand.

Cadogan noted that these notifications indicate instances where water supplies were contaminated with fecal matter. Alarmingly, two of these cases were linked to council supplies just last week. He emphasized a common misconception among New Zealanders who often believe their water is safe. “Most of our water’s good most of the time, but not all of our water is good all of the time,” he stated. “If there’s one thing I want councillors to take away, it’s that it can go wrong. It does go wrong. And when it goes wrong, people can get really sick. People can die, and have.”

Lessons from Past Contaminations

Cadogan’s engagement with the councillors comes in the wake of the Havelock North water contamination incident in 2016, which resulted in the deaths of four individuals and left over 5,000 others ill. In response to such events, Taumata Arowai was established in 2021 to enhance water safety standards across the nation.

During his presentation, Cadogan provided practical advice for addressing public concerns regarding water safety standards, especially when residents criticize the financial implications of maintaining high safety levels. He suggested that councillors ask community members, “What level of E coli, or what level of giardia, or what level of norovirus is actually okay?” According to Cadogan, most people would agree that the acceptable level is zero.

Strategies for Water Safety

Cadogan outlined four key strategies for ensuring safe drinking water: source protection, filtration, disinfection, and secure distribution. He explained that maintaining a good source water is not only beneficial for public health but also more cost-effective to treat. Disinfection methods, such as chlorine and ultraviolet (UV) light, play a critical role in ensuring water safety. The final step, secure distribution, involves measures to prevent contamination as water travels through the supply network.

“If you have a break in the pipe, bugs can get in as easily as water can get out,” Cadogan warned. He emphasized the importance of maintaining residual chlorine levels within the pipe network to safeguard public health.

Tim Cadogan served as the mayor of Central Otago from 2016 until 2024 before transitioning to his current role as a local government engagement specialist at Taumata Arowai. His insights are part of ongoing efforts to enhance water safety and public awareness in New Zealand.

This presentation marks a significant step in addressing water safety challenges, ensuring that local authorities remain vigilant in their responsibilities to protect public health.