Water samples taken from three Takaka properties — one outside the initial area of concern — have come back positive for contamination after a major fire was put out at the ITM building site last month.
In a statement today, Tasman District Council confirmed a positive sample was taken on Factory Road on January 22, as well as two properties on Motupipi Street which lie within the original zone of concern.
Last month "a number of houses and workplaces in Motupipi Street" that use bore water were identified to have potentially been contaminated by run-off from firefighting at the ITM building site on January 11.
"All the samples are compliant with the drinking water standards except for three sample sites that were found to have levels of dichloromethane higher than the drinking water standard," the statement said.
Dichloromethane (also known as methylene chloride) is a solvent widely used in chemical research, manufacturing, and cleaning agents.
"We are working with the laboratory, public health experts and environmental scientists to locate the source of dichloromethane".
"While this positive test result is yet to be linked to the run-off from firefighting at the ITM building site on Thursday, January 11, we are taking necessary precautions to ensure that the health of the community is not put in jeopardy," said the council.
Tasman District Council said it has sampled water for a number of contaminants including BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes), heavy metals, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds.
Residents were being advised to refrain from drinking water in the existing zone as well as the rest of Motupipi Street, Factory Road and the first section of Abel Tasman Drive (to Scotts Corner).
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