The Waimate District Council has hit back at claims it did not notify a school its water was undrinkable.
On Monday, the council issued a public notice to inform residents to cease water consumption because of high nitrate levels.
Glenavy School principal Kate Mansfield said the school was not informed directly and found out when a council worker mentioned it to her while at the school for a different matter.
When asked if this was true, council chief executive Stuart Duncan denied it.
"No, that is not true. Dan Mitchell, council’s asset group manager, spoke to the chairperson for the Glenavy School board, on Monday, December 2, informing him of the situation."
Mr Duncan cited a post on the school’s website and Facebook page later that day informing parents.
"This gave council the confidence they were appropriately informed."
The council had been "putting out messaging" on its website and social media channels as well as in the newspaper.
The council had continued to top up a water tank placed at the school in 2022 when nitrate levels made its water undrinkable.
Managing that created problems for school staff at an already busy time of the year, Mrs Mansfield said.
"It’s working, we’re making it happen. It’s what we’ve got to do, but it’s not ideal."
