Magazine - Water Scare in Arrowtown for NZ Open

By Editor in Golf on 28th Jan 2010 22:00

A water scare in Arrowtown has left many residents frustrated they were not informed as the town prepares to welcome thousands of visitors for the New Zealand Golf Open.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council yesterday issued a press release stating E.coli had been detected in the Arrowtown water supply and advising residents to boil drinking water until Friday morning. But accommodation providers, residents and golf open organisers spoken to yesterday afternoon by The Southland Times had no idea about the advisory.

Arrowtown Residents Group spokesman Peter Roberts said he was "disturbed but not surprised" to hear E.coli might be in the water supply. The presence of the bacteria was a strong indication of either human or animal fecal contamination and could be fatal, especially with young children and the elderly, he said.

He was confident the council would take action quickly but was concerned about how the boil water notice had been advertised. Mr Roberts stumbled across the information when reading the council website and said the warning should have been posted in shops.

Residents Group member and young mother Mia Bennie said she was shocked by the news. "Arrowtown is full of young families so I'm quite concerned; it's fairly serious," she said.

The presence of E. coli showed the system was not coping and any plans to expand Arrowtown should be halted until the existing infrastructure was adequate, she said.

Settlers Cottage Motel owner Pete Townsend had no idea about the boil-water notice and said he would immediately inform his guests. "Both me and my wife have been sick, so that explains it," he said.


WHAT IS E. COLI?

A species of bacterium found in the intestines of animals and humans. Most strains are helpful but some can causes diseases including cystitis, meningitis and diarrhoea. Is usually transferred through water or contaminated food such as meat.

Source & More: www.stuff.co.nz

Read more articles in Golf, by Editor or from January 2010.