Christchurch Earthquake – Public Health

5:50pm Monday 06 September 2010
Christchurch residents are advised to keep following public health advice regarding water use and sanitation as tap water in Christchurch may not be safe.

Water use

Residents are advised that it is now acceptable to use showers, washing machines and water for other purposes as recovery work has resulted in some improvements to the network.
However, if water use becomes particularly high in a certain area, Council staff will contact residents and ask them to minimise water use. The health advisory on drinking water still applies.

Water contamination
Residents should work on the assumption that tap water may be contaminated and that all water for drinking (including drinking fountains), brushing teeth, making coffee and washing food and dishes must be boiled for three (3) minutes before use. Residents can use unboiled water for bathing and showering.
They will be advised when tap water is safe to use without boiling.

Water is available from tankers at the following locations:

• Locksley Ave / McBratneys Road, Dallington 2 – 3pm

• Anzac Drive / Birch Street, Bexley 2 – 3pm

• Palmers Road (Avon River end), New Brighton 4 – 8pm

• Central New Brighton School, Hawke Street 4 – 8pm

• Rocking Horse Road (north end),

• South New Brighton 4 – 8pm

Please bring your own containers (20 litres-plus). All water from tankers must be boiled before use.

Sanitation

Those who do not have water for flushing their toilets need to use portaloos that have been supplied in the worst affected areas, or construct a makeshift loo.

They can use a bin lined with two or more plastic bags. The plastic bags need to be closed tight after use and buried.

Portaloos are based at:

• Corner Galbraith/Morris and Robson Ave in Dallington

• Retreat Road, Avonside

• Locksley Ave – Avonview Retirement Village

• Waimari Beach Carpark

• New Brighton Mall

• Ebbtide St, South Brighton

• Rockinghorse Road, Southshore

• Mermaid Place, Southshore

• Kingsford Street

• Tasman Place

• Queensbury Street

• Gayhurst Road


For further information, please refer to the Christchurch City Council website www.ccc.govt.nz, email info@ccc.govt.nz or contact the Christchurch City Council call centre on Ph 941 8999.