Rules determining where firefighting foam can be used in the Dunedin district may be introduced after contamination of the city's main water supply. However, the Deep Stream catchment, which usually provides 80% of the city's water supply, was contaminated with firefighting foam and ash. Dunedin City Council 3 Waters group manager Tom Dyer confirmed yesterday the council had no agreements in place with Fire and Emergency NZ (Fenz) concerning use of the foam. Te Papanui protects a large amount of native tussock grassland which includes 60% of Dunedin's water catchment area. The Deep Stream and Deep Creek pipelines, 58km and 64km respectively, use gravity to take water to the Mt Grand reservoir.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 11, 2019 19:51 UTC