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Published: August 6th 2007
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Water Catchment
Source of Drinking Water for Reefton It was a blessedly relaxed week in Reefton having returned from our Easter trip. Much of the week was devoted to the water supply.
Having been in Reefton for a month or so, I was curious about the water supply. Where did it come from and where did it go? I happened by the local library where Adrianne is volunteering, shelving and reorganizing the children's books. There I found the answers to my questions in a government publication.
The water is pumped from a 15 metre well into an open reservoir/catchment which I came across on one of my hikes through the local hills. The supply is uncovered and largely unsecured. The water is not treated (no chlorine, no fluoride). When I last saw the reservoir, it was teeming with tadpoles (presumably a sign that the water is not badly contaminated) and a couple of ducks were paddling around (I am sure that they use the public toilets to relieve themselves). The water is tested weekly for microbiological contaminants. Last year e-coli was found in the water only 4 times. So other than those 4 weeks, the water was probably free of harmful bacteria.
There are some potentially nasty chemicals in the water: principally, lead, chromium and antimony. There are all present in the water at levels above the national standard, but it is hard to know if one should be concerned. We were already filtering our water with a Brita filter which I am lead to believe filters out any lead.
Antimony sulphide is the chief ore of antimony and is found in many quartz lodes in and around Reefton. I assume that this is the source of the antimony in the water, but antimony is also released by coal fires and some industrial processes. I gather it is not a carcinogenic and therefore not overly concerning.
Chromium is present in most soils and rocks and it can enter water naturally from weathering and run-off from soils but it also is used in a range of industries, especially leather tanning and timber treatment. Trivalent chromium Cr(III) is an essential trace element for humans. On the other hand, hexavalent chromium Cr(IV) (the same carcinogenic compound featured in the Erin Brockovich movie) occurs infrequently in nature. Its presence in water is generally the result of industrial and domestic chromium waste discharges. The reports that I have seen do not differentiate between the two. There is no sign of serious industry here, but I don't know what has taken place in the past. I will send an email to someone about this issue before resorting to bottled water.
On the other side, the treatment of waste has recently improved with the construction of the $1.2 million Reefton Sewerage Treatment plan in April of 2006. Prior to this, raw sewage was deposited more or less directly into the Inangahua River. Hopefully, this was down stream of the swimmers.
In other news, my bike needed some repairs - the disc brakes are not releasing completely. The system actually uses brake fluid and requires specialized equipment to repair. I was reluctant to entrust it to the local bike shop, so I asked Astrid to drop it off at the bike shop in Greymouth, assuming that the bike shop in a bigger centre would be up to the task. Imagine my surprise when Astrid reported to me that the repair technician was a form (grade) 7 student and would not be able to look at the bike until after school. Oh dear.
On Friday, I got a letter from the New Zealand Police. Evidently someone complained to the local constabulary about my driving (I was shocked too!). The letter alleges that I was seen "overtaking in the face of oncoming traffic, causing another driver to take evasive action on State Highway 6 between Kingston and Frankton." Apparently they were sufficiently alarmed to report the matter to the Police. Of course I vehemently deny the aforesaid allegation, but even if it were true (which is specifically denied), I am sure the said passing was made necessary by the exceedingly slow driving of the complainant. Moreover, I have no idea where Kingston or Frankton is. Nevertheless, I am reminded that Big Brother is watching over here.
Poor Astrid split a molar on the weekend. She was chewing on a pen when a fairly significant chunk of her back tooth came off. Astrid has always been a little sensitive about dental issues, so this was not particularly welcome news. She ended up having to go to Greymouth to have a dentist do a short term repair on her tooth and is now on the mend. I suspect that she will canvas the options for a more permanent repair in Christchurch, or wait until we return to Toronto. Interestingly, because she was "negligent" in chewing on her pen when the incident occurred, the government accident compensation scheme will pay the dental bill. The accident compensation scheme provides benefits for any accident victim, in return for which they lose their right to sue. While interesting in principle (other than the obvious downside for lawyers), I suspect the scheme has had a number of unintended consequences, such as providing compensation to Astrid in these circumstances. However, we are not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
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Abby Grayzel
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Hidden Radars
At least you've not received any speeding tickets mailed to your home courtesy of the hidden radars!