Upper Hunter Shire Council has advised Aberdeen and Scone residents to boil water for drinking and food preparation until further notice following recent heavy rain in the Glenbawn Dam catchment which has caused issues with effective water treatment.
The Council says local drinking water is not currently safe to consume.
“Upper Hunter Shire Council is working to fix the problem and will notify residents as soon as the water quality risk has returned to normal,” it said in a statement.
“We ask residents not to be alarmed – this alert to boil all drinking water is a proactive and preventative measure to manage the risk and ensure the safety of residents.
“Water used for drinking or food preparation should be brought to a rolling boil to make it safe. Kettles with automatic shut off switches can do this. Water should then be allowed to cool and stored in a clean container with a lid and refrigerated.”
Bottled water or cool boiled water should be used for drinking, washing uncooked food (e.g. salad vegetables and fruit), making ice, cleaning teeth, gargling and pets’ drinking water.
“Dishes should be washed in hot soapy water or in a dishwasher. Children should take bottled water or cool boiled water to school.”
“Everyone, particularly people caring for young children, should be careful to avoid scalding, when you are heating and then cooling the water.
“Tap water is safe for bathing. There is a potential risk if water is swallowed during washing and bathing. Parents and carers could consider a sponge bath for children as an alternative,” Council said.
The Council says the recent heavy continuous rainfall in the Glenbawn catchment has caused Glenbawn Dam and the Aberdeen River turbidity level to increase.
“Based on the latest water quality results from the water supply system, the turbidity is now too high to adequately guarantee the safety of the water for human consumption,” Council said.
Further information will be provided by Council when available.
