Tap water in New Zealand town causes hundreds to fall ill

More than 3000 people across the area were made violently ill with a gastro bug after drinking contaminated water from the town’s main water supply in the last week.

Mrs Peterson was grateful for the assistance of OnePure Water and Havelock North New World who have generously donated bottled water for their community.

The water is being distributed because the town supply has been contaminated with campylobacter.

Residents of Havelock North, in New Zealand’s North Island, still don’t know if their tap water is safe to drink.

“Chlorination of the water supply will continue indefinitely, and we are undertaking a major investigation of the cause of the contamination to help us ensure this can not happen again”, Mr Yule said.

The Havelock North District Health Board says they’re doing all they can to combat a waterborne illness sweeping the region. Others hit hard by the bug have now been discharged from hospital.

In a statement on its website issued on Monday, The Hastings District Council said the contamination and resulting sickness was “very serious” and the bacteria found was most likely a result of animal faeces finding its way into the bore.

Symptoms of the illness being reported were diarrhoea and influenza like symptoms; headaches, muscle pain, fever and feeling generally unwell.

The DHB and the local council were encouraging the community to check on their neighbours and any vulnerable people who may not be able to access medical help.

The Ministry of Health advice was to stay closed till Mondy to reduce the risk of person to person contamination.