Coonamble Shire Council (CSC) has issued a BOIL WATER ALERT for properties connected to the Coonamble water supply due to a system failure at the water treatment plant.

The water treatment plant is not able to keep up with the demand currently being experienced.

This has subsequently created problems with the treatment and supply of the water.

The water supplied is currently not meeting the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, making drinking water unsafe for consumption due to the potential of E. coli or Total Coliforms within the water supply.

Council is addressing the issue by pumping water directly into the reticulation system to ensure household supply is maintained while using other bore supplies to provide enough water for the water treatment plant to work adequately.

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.

Everyone, particularly people caring for young children, should be careful to avoid scalding when you are heating and then cooling the water.

Residents are advised to use cooled, boiled water or bottled water for:

• Drinking

• Brushing teeth

• Washing and preparing food or beverages

• Preparing baby formula

• Making ice

• Pet’s drinking water

Tap water may be used directly for:

• Showering and bathing (residents should minimise that amount of water taken into their mouth). As a precaution babies and toddlers should be sponge bathed

• Washing dishes by hand in hot soapy water or in a dishwasher provided dishes are air-dried before being used after washing

• Washing clothes

Alerts have been sent to local households and services, local media outlets, posted online at coonambleshire.nsw.gov.au and on social media via CSC’s social media accounts.

Coonamble Shire Council will provide regular updates on Coonamble’s water supply quality through its webpage and its Facebook page.

Updates will also be provided to local services and media.

For information about the boil water notice for Coonamble, please visit coonambleshire.nsw.gov.au