Christchurch's drinking water is classified as plumbosolvent, meaning it is capable of dissolving trace levels of heavy metals such as lead and copper out of some household plumbing and fittings.
Some plumbing fittings potentially allow minute traces of metals to accumulate where water sits in the fittings for several hours.
Although the health risk is low, the Ministry of Health recommends you flush a cup full of water from your drinking water tap each morning, or after you have been away from your property, to remove any metals that may have dissolved from the plumbing fittings.
You can use this to water plants.
This simple precaution is recommended for all households in New Zealand, including those on public and private water supplies in the Christchurch and Banks Peninsula area.
For more information, contact Christchurch City Council at watersupply@ccc.govt.nz or phone 03 941 8999 or 0800 800 369.