By Adam Ray
Canterbury hospitals are preparing for a second wave of earthquake victims – people who have caught waterborne diseases.
Two cases of gastroenteritis have been confirmed today and doctors are warning residents to take extra care with hygiene, like boiling tap water.
Keller St in Avonside is still swamped, some of the water has leaked from broken sewers making it a hazard to the public.
Paul stokes, resident
“I've sent my daughter away and we've even sent the dog away because he was out in [the water],” say resident Paul Stokes.
Around 200 water and sewer pipes are still leaking across Christchurch; spreading contaminated water onto streets and into streams and rivers – even the Avon is a no-
Two gastroenteritis cases have been confirmed at the Linwood Welfare Centre, both patients are now been isolated.
Doctors are warning residents to boil water for at least three minutes and wash hands after any contact with water.
They are expecting illness to spread with the contaminated water.
Christchurch City Council has fixed more than 100 broken pipes already but the water and sewerage system has been hammered.
“We have two small pump stations that have been munted – to use engineering speak – so there's some long-term fixes required,” says Mark Christ of the city council.
About 98 percent of homes now have reticulated water but 60 streets are still cut off; they are being supplied by tankers or friends and family.
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