Residents of Bilambil Heights are urged to boil their tap water for drinking purposes until further notice after Tweed Shire Council issued a boil water alert for the suburb.
Due to asset damage at Bilambil Heights associated with the Tropical Cyclone Alfred event, Council cannot guarantee the quality of the water in the suburb.
Tap water in all other parts of the Tweed is unaffected and remains safe.
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 if you have power supply. Water should then be allowed to cool and stored in a clean container with a lid and refrigerated.
Can’t boil?
If you cannot boil the water due to a power outage, unscented household bleach (containing 4% – 5% available chlorine) may be used. Add two drops of bleach to 1 litre of water (or four drops if the water is cloudy), mix well, and allow to stand for 30 minutes before use.
Everyone, particularly people caring for young children, should be careful to avoid scalding, when you are heating and then cooling the water.
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 pet’s drinking water.
Dishes should be washed in hot soapy water or in a dishwasher subject to power supply.
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. The suburb is encouraged to conserve water and consider sponge baths as preferred.
Tweed Shire Council is working to fix the problem and protect the health of the community, however advises this may be some time given the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
This advice should be followed until further notice.
The NSW Health website also includes special considerations for:
- Schools and childcare centres https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/
environment/water/Pages/ schools.aspx - Commercial establishments serving food or drinks https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/
environment/water/Pages/ foodfacts.aspx - Using water header tanks https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/
environment/water/Pages/ watertanks.aspx - Swimming pools and spas https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/
environment/water/Pages/pools. aspx
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