We want to provide you with an update regarding recent drinking water test results for our community water supply in Norsewood.

Routine monitoring has identified elevated levels of both chlorate and manganese in parts of the network.

About Chlorate

Chlorate can sometimes accumulate in treated water over time, particularly when disinfectants have been stored for extended periods or when water remains in parts of the network longer than usual. While short‑term increases can occur, disinfection should never be compromised to manage high chlorate levels, as maintaining effective disinfection is essential for protecting public health. We will continue to keep you informed and encourage you to refer to the linked guidance for further detail on chlorate and any associated health considerations.

In the water | The Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai

About Manganese

Manganese is a naturally occurring mineral found in many water sources. Levels can increase when water has been sitting in parts of the system for an extended period or in areas with low flow. Manganese is generally considered an aesthetic issue, as it can cause discolouration or staining. For any information on potential health‑related considerations, please refer to the linked guidance.

In the water | The Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai

What This Means for You

• These limits are set for lifetime exposure, and current public health advice indicates there is no immediate health risk for the general population. You can continue to use your water as normal. If you have specific health concerns particularly for bottle‑fed infants or anyone with a medical condition, please consult your healthcare provider, or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.
• We are acting out of caution and transparency to ensure you are kept fully informed.

What We Are Doing

Our team is currently:

• Reviewing storage and dosing practices for treatment chemicals.
• Adjusting treatment processes to reduce chlorate formation.
• Flushing parts of the network to refresh water where possible.
• Continuing increased sampling to monitor levels closely.
• Progressing longer‑term improvements to the network and related issues to provide more sustainable solutions.

Why You Are Hearing About This Now

Routine sampling has been more frequent and targeted allowing us to detect these exceedances more quickly. We are working closely with the regulator and taking all reasonable steps to address the issue promptly.

Next Steps

We will keep the community updated as new results come through and as improvement measures take effect. Our aim is to restore levels to within the usual compliance range as quickly as possible.

We want to acknowledge the residents of Norsewood and we know there has been some ongoing concerns issues with water, which are known and being actively managed.

We remain committed to keeping you informed as we work through them.