Economy
Water, water …
As Southern Water claimed in its advertisement on Saturday, the state’s new water utilities are “dynamic and exciting places to work”. [The Mercury page 84 Sat 16 Jan 2010]
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/18/2794584.htm
Ross boil water alert continues
Posted 4 hours 13 minutes ago
* Map: Ross 7209
A boil water alert is still in place for Ross residents this week.
The temporary boil water alert was imposed after routine tests detected low levels of E-coli in the town’s drinking water pipeline last week.
Ben Lomond Water conducted more tests over the weekend and will show the results to the Health Department today.
Spokeswoman Sophie Murphy says they will be able to reassess the need for the alert after meeting with the department.
Meanwhile,
Explain missing refunds: Greens
BY SHELLEY SPENCER
18 Jan, 2010 02:54 PM
THE Greens yesterday called on the Government to explain why many Tasmanians have not received their promised water and sewerage bill refunds.
Treasurer Michael Aird responded by saying the water corporations had agreed to apply the full price cap on total water and sewerage bills to ratepayers’ next instalment notices.
“This will allow eligible customers who are paying by instalment to receive the full amount of their credit straight away,” he said.
For those customers who have already paid their bill in full, refunds will be provided by cheque to those owed $20 or more. Those owed smaller amounts will see a credit on their next bill.
“Instalment notices are expected to start going out in the next few weeks with payments for the second instalment due in late February,”
Mr Aird said.
“The timing is dependent on councils getting the relevant information to the water corporations.”
Mr Aird said a refund or credit would only be provided where a total water and sewerage bill increased by more than 5 per cent.
Tuesday, ABC Radio …
Water mains in some Hobart suburbs are being flushed after complaints this morning.
Residents in Mt Stuart and Lenah Valley and in the upper reaches of South and West Hobart reported their water had a strange taste and smell.
Southern Water’s Ian Dunbabin told ABC Radio it was due to a mix of water with different oxygen contents taken from the upper and lower reservoirs.
“At the moment we’ve reconfigured, and we’re in the process of flushing fresher water through the system to restore water quality to all our customers as quickly as possible.”
Supply is expected to return to normal later today but residents are advised to boil their drinking water.