February 28, 2022
South Burnett Regional Council has issued a boil water alert to residents and visitors in Murgon, Wondai and Yallakool Caravan Park.
A Council spokesperson said people should boil water until further notice due to elevated turbid water quality issues.
“Recent rainfall, with surface water runoff from tributaries, creeks and rivers in the South Burnett, has contributed to increased water turbidity making it increasingly difficult to produce clear water,” the spokesperson said,
“During rainfall events, elevated dissolved iron and manganese become suspended in the water.
“Conventional water treatment plants do not remove these trace elements. Liquid sodium hypochlorite (chlorine) is used to disinfect the town water supply from virus, bacteria and protozoans.
“This is an oxidising agent (which) also oxidises the dissolved trace metals.
“During a rainfall event, the water supply demand is low, and the by-product can be a ‘rust’ look or discoloured water within the reticulation supply. This can at times build up in low flow areas of the network and cause pockets of discoloured water that can be aesthetically displeasing.”
South Burnett Regional Council said cooled boiled or bottled water should be used for:
- Drinking
- Cooking
- Washing and preparing food or beverages (such as seafood or salads)
- Post mix soft drink systems
- Coffee machines
- Making ice
- Preparing baby formula
- Brushing teeth
- Bathing babies and toddlers
- Other potable water uses
“Children should take bottled or cooled boiled water to school / childcare,” the spokesperson said.
“Special care is advisable for certain customers at this time; these include people with severely compromised immune systems (the immunosuppressed), individuals receiving dialysis treatment and aged individuals.
“As a precaution, residents are advised that water for consumption should be brought to a rolling boil for one minute.
“Kettles with automatic cut-off switches are suitable and variable temperature kettles should be set to boil. Water should then be allowed to cool and stored in a clean, closed container and refrigerated. Care should be taken to avoid scalding injuries.”
Unboiled water may be used for:
- Showering and bathing (avoid swallowing water).
- Washing dishes in hot soapy water by hand or in a dishwasher, providing dishes are air-dried before being used after washing.
- Garden irrigation providing foods are washed with cooled boiled water prior to consumption.
- Animals drinking water; unboiled water carries no greater risk to them than the typical water they have access to (puddles, watercourses, dams etc.)
- Washing clothes
- Flushing toilets
The spokesperson said Council’s water team was working to resolve the problem and the necessary government departments had been notified.
“This notice will remain in place until the safety of the water supply can be assured. Precautions should be taken until further notice. Residents will be kept informed of the situation and will be notified when the boil water alert is no longer in place,” the spokesperson said.
UPDATE March 4: SBRC has advised that water samples from Murgon, Wondai and Bjelke-Petersen Dam Caravan and Recreation Park water schemes have all returned negative results for microbial contaminants. As a result, the boil water alert has now been lifted.
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Earlier on Monday, Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council advised there had been a sewage spill into Barambah Creek due to the failure of a flood-affected pump station.
“This was rectified around midday today with the pumps working again now,” a Council statement said.
A Darling Downs Health spokesperson said the two incidents were unrelated as the Boil Health Alert had been issued before the sewage spill had become apparent.
[UPDATED]
