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We're reducing the chlorine dose at some pump stations

The taste and smell of water will vary across Christchurch.

We're about to lower the amount of chlorine we are putting in the water at some of the city’s pump stations in an attempt to address taste and smell issues.

The Drinking Water Assessor has approved the change at 27 of the 53 pump stations that are being treated.

This will reduce the overall concentration of chlorine in the drinking water.

The 27 pump stations have been selected because they are in areas where the water travels down the pipes for at least two minutes before reaching people’s homes.

That two minute lag is important because it allows enough time for the chlorine to be effective at a lower dose.

At the other pump stations the chlorine only has a minute’s contact time with the water before people start drawing on it so the dose needs to remain at current levels, until alternative measures can be put in place.

There is some work to be done at each of the affected pump stations in order to change the dose so the lower dosage will be rolled out progressively over the next couple of weeks. We'll be updating our online map to indicate the dose rate at each pump station.

About the temporary treatment of your water supply

Why is the smell and taste stronger in some areas?

The amount people notice the smell and taste can, among other things, depend on how close they are to the pump station. Different pump stations are used depending on demand so you may not be getting water from the one closest to you. There is a map of the pump station locations on our website.

Another factor is the condition of the pipes. Chlorine reacts with a variety of naturally occurring materials in the pipe. It’s this reaction that can cause the variation in smell and taste in some areas and that’s why we’re flushing pipes in the worst-affected areas.

What you can do to reduce the taste
If you fill an open jug with water and keep it in the fridge over time the taste will reduce.

You need to keep lids off containers so the chlorine can evaporate over time.

What if it’s causing skin issues?
If you have any health-related concerns, you should contact your general practice team or family doctor first.

If you call your usual GP’s number after-hours your call will be put through to a nurse who can provide free health advice.  You can also contact Healthline any time on 0800 611 116 for free health advice.

There is background information and a map on our website showing areas of the city where chlorine is being used and this will be updated as we progress. There is also a question and answer section which has quite a lot of detail.

You can call the Customer Contact Centre on 03 941 8999 or 0800 800 169 if you have any questions, or email watersupply@ccc.govt.nz