Western News: January 21, 2020

WESTERN NEWS Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Tuesday January 21 2020 11
News
Council to remind property
owners about backflow risk
THE CITY Council will begin
contacting property owners from
next week to remind them about
the importance of stopping water
from back-flowing into the public
drinking-water supply.
Letters will be sent out to mostly
commercial and industrial property
owners seeking information
about types of backflow prevention
devices installed on properties.
Backflow occurs when water
flows backward from a property
and into the public drinking-water
supply network. It can happen if
the pressure drops in the network
and causes water – and potentially
chemicals and other contaminants
– to be sucked or pushed back into
the public supply.
Council head of three waters and
waste Helen Beaumont says while
backflow events are rare, the risk to
the public drinking-water supply
is high.
“Backflow is one of the biggest
risks to our drinking water and can
seriously affect the quality and safety
of our water, potentially causing serious
illness, injury or even death.
“We’re committed to supplying
safe, high-quality drinking water
for everyone in Christchurch, and
to make sure we can keep doing
that, we need property owners’
help to ensure backflow doesn’t
happen.”
Backflow prevention devices are
a legal requirement for many commercial
and industrial properties
and are typically registered as part
of the building consent process.
The council holds records for
most properties with a backflow
prevention device installed, however
devices may also have been
installed outside of the building
consent process.
Where the council doesn’t have
a record of a device being installed
on higher-risk properties, it is
contacting those property owners
to find out, Ms Beaumont says.
“As part of our revised water
safety plan and ongoing work to
remove chlorine from the drinking
water, we need to make sure
we’re effectively managing the risk
around backflow.
“Property owners are legally
responsible for making sure the
water on their property doesn’t
contaminate the public drinkingwater
supply. This starts at the
water meter and includes the entire
property’s water system.
“Generally speaking, most
residential properties don’t need a
backflow prevention device, except
where they may have in-ground irrigation
systems, swimming pools,
spa pools or dialysis machines. If
in doubt, a registered plumber can
advise further.”
Property owners are responsible
for all costs associated with installing,
operating, maintaining and testing
a backflow prevention device.
Where at-risk properties are
without one, the council will
be asking owners to apply for a
building consent and to have a
device professionally installed.
Events to promote key
dementia message
PEOPLE WITH dementia are
still themselves.
This will be the message
promoted during Dementia
Canterbury’s Walk for Dementia
on February 2 at Nga Puna Wai
Sports Hub.
This is part of the Still Me
campaign, which is aimed at
reducing the stigma associated
with dementia.
An estimated 7500 people in
Canterbury have dementia, and
with an ageing population, this
number is expected to triple by
2050.
A diagnosis of dementia can
bring a sense of relief because it
explains changes in behaviour,
but for many, it creates a fear of
what lies ahead.
Dementia Canterbury manager
Darral Campbell said whatever
the future holds, a person
with dementia is “still me” and
can live well.
Dementia Canterbury is
supporting the nationwide campaign,
co-ordinated by Dementia
New Zealand, with events in
Christchurch and Canterbury
including the Walk for Dementia
next month and a charity
golf tournament on March 6 at
Pegasus Golf and Sports Club.
Both events will raise money
to pay for the free support
services and education programmes
offered by Dementia
Canterbury throughout Canterbury
and the West Coast.
Ms Campbell said contrary
to what many people think,
dementia is not a normal part
of ageing. It affects people of all
cultures, intellectual abilities
and lifestyles, and while it is
more common in people over
the age of 65, it can also affect
people as young as 35.
“The Still Me campaign has
been designed to help change the
way we think, feel and talk about
dementia. It is a reminder that
we need to see the person not
the condition and to recognise
the brave person who is supporting
them,” said Ms Campbell.
To register for either event go
to dementiacanterbury.org.nz/
events
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25 Springs Road,
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52 Franklin Road,
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21 Ruakura Road,
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50 Hazeldean Road,
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