E.coli has been discovered in Martinborough's water supply over the last week. Water New Zealand principal water quality advisor Jim Graham said treatment plants in smaller communities were often not up to the standard of sophisticated overseas infrastructure that made water safe without chlorination. Graham was familiar with the Martinborough water supply and said it used a "pretty standard treatment method" for a town of its size. Visiting Canadian expert Dr Steve Hrudey, speaking at the Water New Zealand Drinking Water Conference in Hamilton in 2017, said there seemed to be an aversion to chlorinating water in New Zealand. He said it was best to chlorinate small water supplies because it gave them an extra level of safety.

Source: Stuff February 05, 2019 04:40 UTC