People residing in Canterbury have been advised by the local health authorities to avoid coming in touch with the waterways. The warnings related to the waterways have been issued due to the fears of the contamination of water because of rains.

According to the Canterbury Regional Council, the heavy rainfalls might result in the flushing of sand and slush into the rivers. The council has also warned that there is a serious risk of the sewer water overflowing due to the damage that had been caused because of the earthquake.

The City Council for Christchurch has announced that the damage caused to the sewerage system due to the incessant heavy rain could only be ascertained in bad weather. The heavy downpour has been another tough time for the people of Christchurch following the strong earthquake that had hit the city just a month before.

Later on, Alistair Murphy, the Chief Medical Officer of Health in Canterbury, while talking about the health risk due to the rains stated that the risk of contamination of water due to the compromise of the sewerage system was extremely high.

The City Council of Christchurch and the Waimakariri District Council have asked the residents to please be patient, as the two are toiling hard to get the drains and the waterways fixed.