Residents of a Canterbury town have not had a reliable source of safe drinking water for nearly a year
In the small South Island town of Springfield the Southern Alps and the bucolic rural scenes make an impressive backdrop as you drive through, but the water tanker and shower unit installed outside the community hall on the main road point to problems afoot.
Springfield was hit by major flooding almost a year ago and has had ongoing problems with its water quality ever since.
In February, locals were told not to drink or wash with the water - and they wouldn't want to anyway, with the frequent brown tinge and the rashes for those who have no choice but to bathe in it.
Springfield's tap water has a distinct yellow tinge Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Front of house manager for Taste of Kiwi cafe Brownyn Squires heads across the road every work day to pick up all the water she needs to keep the cafe operating, and at home she has to do it all again.
"So we've got to go get our water and bring it home, got to boil it, and use it for brushing your teeth, washing. They've put shower blocks across the road. Not too sure how many people are using them, but they've done that so that's really good. "
The colour of the water in Springfield can vary day to day but on the day we visited Amy Albon the water has a distinct yellow tinge to it.
She said her three and five year olds have been taught that water is "yuck", and they shouldn't drink it.
"I don't want to wash my children in a bath that is dirtier than they are, and their skin reacts as well," she said. "They both have sensitive skin and it just comes out flaky and red and itchy. So we can't even bathe them here."
A shower block has been set up outside the Springfield community hall due to persistent water quality issues in the town. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Jack Wilson's household has also suffered rashes from the water, and they are eager for the situation to be resolved, but he said he can't understand why the council has brought in diggers in the last week to redivert the river, which feeds their water intake, back to its original path a year after the floods.
"We need to know why they have destroyed our environment. This isn't what we wanted, we just wanted clean water, and that'll be achieved upstream from here."
Selwyn District Council's Infrastructure Group Manager Murray Washington said the river was rediverted when it was recently discovered it was going through thick vegetation, which may have contributed to the water quality issues.
A major communication link between the town and the council is via the Springfield Township Committee.
Springfield resident and committee member Emma Stead said the council is making progress.
"They've been looking at all sort of options. We've had the short term option with the water tanker that has been brought in. The medium term option is the water is going to be piped up from Sheffield to ease the water issues we've got, and long term the Council is looking at another treatment for our water."
Springfield residents spoken to by RNZ said the town has had poor quality water for years, but this situation is worse and more protracted than ever before.
Springfield residents have not had a reliable source of safe drinking water for nearly a year. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Selwyn District Council infrastructure group manager Murray Washington said the council had looked at possible solutions to the ongoing risks associated with drawing water from the Kowai River for a number of years.
"The reality of Springfield's geology means there are no simple solutions. Despite extensive searching no safe and effective groundwater source has been located that would fully supply Springfield, leaving the river as the only available source."
The Selwyn District Council is one of a number of council's opposed to the Government's Three Water reforms, which would see water services moved from council control to a centralised body.
Despite a year of water issues, Emma Stead does not think the reforms would help the situation.
"What concerns me is we would be a very, very, small fish in a huge pond in that case. I don't think it would solve anything."
Jack Wilson is also doubtful. He said it was hard enough to get the attention of those in charge in Rolleston, let alone in Wellington.
"I think keeping it localised, keeping local people making local decisions about their local environment."
The Selwyn District Council said the new pipeline, which will bring water from nearby Sheffield to mix with Springfield's supply, should be completed mid-July - depending on the weather.
It said it is also working on number of other projects, including increasing storage and trial of a membrane treatment system, which it hopes together will resolve the issues.
