30 November 1999

The Christchurch City Council is urging residents to observe sensible Y2K water storage precautions.

Council Y2K Project Manager John de Zwart says he has been taking a number of calls from residents inquiring as to appropriate water storage guidelines for Christchurch.

"We want to make it clear that the Christchurch residential water supply is fine for storage. Three litres per person per day for three days is the advice from the Y2K Readiness Commission and the Council supports this," he says.

"Containers should not be so bulky that they are hard to lift. Those intended for storage of liquids for drinking such as 1.5L lemonade bottles could be useful. They should be kept in a cool, dark and secure location such as a kitchen cupboard. Containers must be cleaned thoroughly before use and have secure lids."

Containers used to hold milk products previously are not recommended for the storage of water because they are difficult to clean.

If water is stored correctly it should last up to three months after which time it should be replaced. It should also be boiled prior to use.

Tap water does not normally need to be sterilised but water from other sources such as a hot water cylinder (which must be switched off to prevent element burn out) or a cistern, should be boiled for five minutes or be purified before drinking.

For further information:

John de Zwart

Y2K Project Leader 371-1954

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