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UPDATE: Bathurst Regional Council have lifted the Boil Water Alert issued last Friday, after tests revealed that water quality was within safe drinking water guidelines.
This means there is no longer a need for residents on the town water network to use boiled water for general consumption.
Testing by Council staff overnight on Friday and Saturday showed water quality at all affected reservoirs around the network was within safe drinking water guidelines.
These results have now been verified by independent laboratory testing approved by the NSW Department of Health.
Council wishes to assure residents that water quality in the water supply system will continue to be closely monitored.
Bathurst Regional Council General manager David Sherley thanked local residents for their patience.
“We understand this issue caused a considerable disruption to some residents and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience.
“While there has been some genuine concern in the community, at no time have tests over the last few days showed a serious level of impact on the quality of the water in the Bathurst town network."
JUNE 29: BATHURST Regional Council is continuing to warn residents not to drink any tap water until further notice.
Council experienced a problem at its water treatment plant on Thursday night where due to a failure in an automatic alarm system the water was not adequatley filtered.
Council is awaiting water test results which it hopes will be available in the next 24 hours.
Until the results are all clear residents are advised as a precaution to use cooled boiled or bottled water.
General Manager of Bathurst Base Hospital David Wright said yesterday that members of the public experiencing symptoms that could be related to the boiled water alert should contact their GP.
He said if a person's symptoms were severe they should go to the hospital.
Earlier this afternoon a Bathurst Base Hospital spokesperson said the hospital had seen no presentations of symptoms that would be related to drinking contaminated water.
JUNE 28: BATHURST Regional Council is warning residents not to drink any tap water until further notice.
Council experienced a problem at its water treatment plant on Thursday night where due to a failure in an automatic alarm system the water was not adequatley filtered.
You may drink the water if it has been continuously boiled for at least one minute. Water should then be allowed to cool and stored in a clean container with a lid and refrigerated.
Council recommends that cooled boiled or bottled water should be used for:
* Drinking, cooking, washing raw foods (such as seafood or salads), making ice, pet’s drinking water and cleaning teeth.
* Dishes should be washed in hot soapy water or in a dishwasher. Children should take bottled or cooled boiled water to school.
Bathurst Regional Council General Manager David Sherley assures residents Council is working to alleviate the problem.
“When the issue was discovered at around 7am this morning, Council staff immediately began adding extra chlorine to the network which is working to alleviate the problem.
“In the meantime residents may see some discoloured water or notice a slight odour from their taps.
“In line with recommendations from the NSW Department of Health, precautions should be taken until further notice.
“Council does take this issue very seriously and has issued the boiled water message accordingly as a precautionary measure.
“It is hoped the problem will be rectified within the next 48 hours but will advise residents through local media, Council’s website and Facebook pages as soon as we have the all clear.”
Council encourages residents to go to the Department of Health website for more information on boiled water alerts.
A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE:
The Director of Population Health Dr Therese Jones said the alert is a precautionary measure due to the turbidity of the town water, and that risk to the community is unknown until the test results are reported.
In the meantime Bathurst Base Hospital has activated its Emergency Plan and distributed bottled water throughout the hospital. Measures have also been taken in relations to food and beverages.
Test results are expected by late afternoon tomorrow and Dr Jones said if the results are sound the boiled water alert will be lifted.
HOSPITAL DISASTER PLAN ACTIVATED:
General Manager of Bathurst Base Hospital David Wright said members of the public experiencing symptoms that could be related to today's boiled water alert should contact their GP.
If symptoms are severe they should go to the hospital.
Mr Wright has activated the hospital's Disaster Plan and brought bottled water for patients and staff, and sterile water for the operating theatres.
Water testing is being carried out overnight, with the results expected late tomorrow afternoon.
Until the all clear is given people are advised not to consume any mains tap water in Bathurst until further notice unless it is continuously boiled for at least one minute.
WATER PROBLEMS IN BATHURST:
