Water tanks' days may be limited, says mayor

Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis says he might ignore Beachlands residents' wishes and install water reticulation to the township.

An outbreak of legionnaires disease in the coastal settlement near Howick, which has killed one person, appears to have infected two others.

Residents have previously rejected moves to install a water supply, but health concerns could overrule public opinion, Sir Barry said.

The council could reticulate the area, then "look for a method of funding so the cost of the scheme does not fall entirely to residents".

Auckland Regional Public Health Service medical officer Craig Thornley yesterday confirmed teams were awaiting test results for two women suspected of having the waterborne respiratory disease.

The women, both understood to be middle aged, are recovering at home. One is believed to have caught the illness while staying in a house behind that of an 80-year-old man who died of the disease last month.

Both houses - and a neighbouring property where a 40-year-old man caught the disease - had rainwater tanks known to be harbouring legionella spores.

The second woman lived "a couple of streets" away, Dr Thornley said. Health authorities had been made aware of the cases last week. "These are people who became unwell a wee while ago ... [and are] recovering, if not fully recovered by now."

It is the first time legionella spores have been found in water tanks in New Zealand, and investigators had little idea about the implications, Dr Thornley said.

"All we can say is we found it in rain water-collected water supply. We don't know what it is about water tanks that might make more or less likely for it to occur."

Legionella spores grow in warm, stagnant water supplies, but Dr Thornley was not sure if the disease would disappear as winter set in.

"It is possible, but I am really, really speculating. There's a lot we don't know about legionella in water tanks."

Manukau City Council environmental and urban design committee chairman Noel Burnside said last night that there was "nothing definite on the books at this point in time as far as getting water out there".

A survey about three years ago found 70 per cent of the community against a reticulated supply which would cost "many millions".

Dr Thornley said public health officers would not get involved in arguing the pros and cons of water reticulation with the council.

The health service had told Beachlands residents to keep their tanks germ free by emptying and cleaning them at least yearly, and Dr Thornley said health bosses would not be expanding on that advice.

* Auckland Regional Public Health is holding a community meeting at Te Puru Park Community Hall, 954 Whitford-Maraetai Rd, at 6.30 tonight to answer any public concerns about the legionnaires outbreak.