Waimate District Mayor speaks on 'do not drink' water notices

Around 650 households in the Canterbury town of Waimate are still under a "do not drink' notice - after nitrate levels exceeded the acceptable levels of 50 milligrams per litre of water. Unsafe levels pose a risk to people, particularly pregnant women and babies. Boiling the water does not make it safe to drink - in fact it makes the levels worse. Tanker water has been made available to residents but it could be months before the tap water is drinkable. Waimate District Mayor Craig Rowley has put the problem down to farming in the area, he spoke to Susana Lei'ataua.