700,000 Kiwis could be drinking unsafe water – report

4pm – Hastings District Council ‘will read the report with interest’ Hastings District Council says the inquiry’s recommendations will be helpful.
"The recommendations for mandatory treatment and residual disinfection provide certainty for our community and all New Zealanders", Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said.
Chief Executive Ross McLeod said Hastings District Council has responded to all the criticisms raised in the Stage 1 report.
"Since the outbreak there had continued to be reports of E.coli in water supplies throughout Hawke’s Bay.
"Therefore, I was heartened to see the recommendation that – CEOs of DHBs (with Public health responsibilities) should advise drinking water suppliers that all supplies should be effectively treated pending any change to the law…" 3pm – ‘Major reform urgently needed’ Water New Zealand is calling on the Government to implement the recommendations made in the report.
Chief Executive John Pfahlert says urgent reform needs to take place – or there is a "serious risk of another contamination outbreak."
2pm – The report is released The inquiry recommends a number of urgent measures, including asking the Director-General of Health to persuade suppliers not to rely on "current ‘secure’ bore water classifications".
"The inquiry found that 80 percent of residents have access to water which meets current standards.
"This is a failure of the previous Government, and one we will take control of and address," he said.
The report also recommends: Creating a new independent drinking water regulator Recommends a move to larger, aggregated water suppliers as an effective and affordable way to improve compliance, competence and accountability The inquiry makes a number of recommendations to strengthen legislation and regulation Newshub.

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