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.
The boiled water alert has been caused by problems with the Glencoe Reservoir at North Arm. Drinking water in Bray Park, parts of Murwillumbah and connected properties out to Crystal Creek is unsafe to drink without boiling. Tap water in all other parts of the Tweed is unaffected and remains safe.
Tweed Council have said that bottled water or cool boiled water should be used for drinking, washing uncooked food (for example. 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.
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.
‘Tweed Shire Council is working to fix the problem and protect the health of the community. Areas affected may also experience temporary water outages and low pressure in the coming 24 hours while Council drains the affected areas,’ they said on a press release.
This advice should be followed until further notice.
The NSW Health website also includes special considerations for:
- Schools and childcare centres health.nsw.gov.au/environment/water/Pages/schools.aspx
- Commercial establishments serving food or drinks health.nsw.gov.au/environment/water/Pages/foodfacts.aspx
- Using water header tanks health.nsw.gov.au/environment/water/Pages/watertanks.aspx
Swimming pools and spas health.nsw.gov.au/environment/water/Pages/pools.asp
