Dunedin City Council unsure when water will be safe again
Residents in two coastal Otago towns don't know when they'll be able to safely drink their tap water again due to high levels of lead. Yesterday the Dunedin City Council informed the 1,500 residents of Waikouaiti and Karitane to stop using their tap water for drinking, cooking and preparing food. A lead reading of 39 micrograms per litre - which is four times the acceptable level - was first noticed on December 18th, but the alert was sent to a council staff member who was on holiday. Emma Hatton spoke to RNZ's reporter, Tess Brunton, who's been in Karitane and Waikouaiti.