Chlorine-free water is once again available at two community drinking water stations in Christchurch, following upgrades by the Christchurch City Council to meet government regulations.

The drinking water stations at Burnside Park and Keyes Road have been upgraded to comply with the Water Services Act 2021.

The Burnside Park tap is now open, and the tap at 345 Keyes Road in New Brighton is expected to be operational by Saturday, 24 August.

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger expressed his enthusiasm about the return of chlorine-free water, saying, “I am so pleased that once again, anyone who wants free access to water without chlorine can take their containers down to whichever community drinking water station is closest to them and fill up.”

Mauger acknowledged the importance of chlorine-free water to the Christchurch community and praised the efforts of Council staff in meeting the required standards.

“Having access to chlorine-free water is so important to us here in Christchurch, and Council staff have worked hard to bring these taps up to standard,” he said.

“We know getting chlorine out of all the water in Christchurch is incredibly unlikely, so we have to take having these taps on for the community as a small win.”

Chlorine was initially introduced to all water supply zones in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula to comply with the Water Services Act 2021 and associated regulations.

The Council closed the community taps when they failed to meet the new drinking water standards.

However, following the recent upgrades, the water at these stations now undergoes cartridge filtration and UV treatment on-site while remaining chlorine-free.

The Christchurch City Council is also undertaking a broader programme to upgrade the city’s water supply, which includes installing continuous monitoring equipment and replacing the temporary chlorination system.