We are a group of Selwyn residents deeply concerned about the introduction of chorine to our water supplies.

We do not want our Council spending ratepayer money on temporary chlorination when that money could be spent putting in UV or other acceptable systems to avoid chlorination of our water.

Chlorine is used as a form of disinfection for water as it is the cheapest option available. Cheap is not always the best. Chlorine cannot disinfect all waterborne pathogens – protozoan cysts (e.g. giardia) are resistant to the effects of chlorine1.

Ultraviolet disinfection can treat protozoan cysts2. Chlorine free drinking water has been achieved in The Netherlands and Denmark as their residents place high value on chlorine free water either due to health concerns or because the source is already high quality3. Therefore where we have high quality sources we should make an effort to keep them as natural as possible.

Chlorine health concerns include cancers and skin issues.

• Chlorination by-products include trihalomethanes (of which chloroform is a trihalomethane) which are considered carcinogenic and associated with several different types of cancer4.
• Showering in chlorinated water can result in inhalation of chlorine vapours (suspected cause of asthma and bronchitis) as well as opening up the pores of the skin for increased absorption of chlorine5.
• Long term exposure can cause hair and skin to become dry and flaky.

When added to water chlorine kills disease-causing bacteria.

When it enters the human body what is it doing to our gut bacteria?

Poor gut health due to the culling of good gut bacteria can cause health issues.

Drinking chlorinated water may have long term health effects.

There are wider environmental factors to consider; wastewater leaches to natural waterways and will have flow on impacts on water life. Additionally, consumers are more like to buy bottled water when chlorinated water is coming out of the taps.

This will increase plastic bottle waste and have a flow on impact to the environment.

Glyphosate was used as a descaling agent back in the 1960s and first identified as a weedkiller (RoundUp) in the 1970s and only in the last decade have the terrible health effects of glyphosate been brought to light and the contamination it has caused in soil and food products.

There may be a lot more yet to learn about the long term impacts of chlorine in tap water.

We realise the council is bound by the recent regulations but we really need central government to hear our voices and that we do not want chlorination in our water. As per the Local Government Act 2002 section 10(1);
The purpose of local government is -
(a) to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities; and
(b) to promote the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of communities in the present and for the future.

Please hear that our community does not want our drinking water chlorinated.