I write regarding an article posted on your website regarding the testing of water at Grindelwald (Original article, HERE).
When concerns and enquiries are received at the Public and Environmental Health Service (PEHS) it is standard procedure that the issue is first directed to the relevant expert section and senior officers within that Unit, rather than be directed to the Director or Deputy Director of Public Health.
Mr Stott, a resident of Grindelwald, called PEHS at 4.55pm last Wednesday afternoon to register his concern about his water supply. The State Water Officer, who is one of Tasmania’s leading experts in drinking water microbiology, was not at her desk when Mr Stott called so his details were taken. The State Water Officer returned Mr Stott’s call 15 minutes later, at 5.10pm to discuss the matter and advised Mr Stott to boil his water while urgent investigations were conducted.
It is standard procedure that in cases where a member of the public has collected a water sample themselves, that a resample be undertaken by a qualified person. Resampling in response to a failed water test is in accordance with the Public Health Act 1997. This is especially important with respect to bacteriological sampling as contamination of the sample can readily occur, particularly if the sampling procedure is not performed in accordance with the required sampling standard.
Unfortunately, it would appear that based on information received from Mr Stott, he was incorrectly advised by a private laboratory about water sampling techniques. Correct water sampling standards state that collection in a sterile container is required, as is the necessity to flame the tap. Mr Stott could not confirm that he did either of these things.
As the sample was not collected according to correct water sampling standard, and as no notifications of contamination of the public drinking water supply system which supplies water to Mr Stott had been received at the time he registered his concern, it was considered unlikely that the reticulation system was contaminated, but that the issue certainly warranted following up. As a precautionary measure the PEHS State Water Officer requested the water corporation immediately to collect further samples specifically in the vicinity of Mr Stott’s home. These were done and they indicated that the reticulation system in Grindelwald was not contaminated, and there was no need for a public boil water alert to be issued.
Mr Stott was told to continue to boil the water in his home as a precaution in case some cross contamination issue within his own home plumbing could potentially be contaminating his drinking water. After several attempts to contact Mr Stott during the day of Thursday, 6 January, the PEHS regional officer managed to speak to Mr Stott at 8.30pm to arrange a time to resample the water at his home. The PEHS regional officer made it clear that he was available to take samples asap, but Mr Stott indicated that the following day, Friday 7 January, was not suitable and so sampling of Mr Stott’s home water supply was arranged for Monday, 10 January 2011.
The following day, Friday 7 January, the PEHS regional officer rang Mr Stott to reconfirm the sampling appointment for Monday, 10 January 2011.
On Sunday. 9 January 2011 at 5.45pm, Mr Stott called the PEHS regional officer and left a message requesting that the appointment for Monday be cancelled and DHHS not come to his house to take any samples. The PEHS regional officer returned the call 15 minutes later at 6pm, to confirm that Mr Stott did not want his water sampled by DHHS.
In summary, all the available evidence indicates there is no public health issue for Grindelwald residents in general from the drinking water supply. It is not possible to comment further on Mr Stott’s own residence, as he has withdrawn permission for authorised officers to help him investigate his concerns. The PEHS remains open to assist should Mr Stott change his mind and request our expert help.
Mercury:
Water slugs still in balance
DAMIEN BROWN 13 January 2011
SOUTHERN Water will not release the full cost benefit analysis of exactly how much the introduction of water meters will cost householders.
Instead of making available the full briefing document prepared for its board members, it will release a polished version to southern mayors and elected members in the next three weeks and then publicly within a month.
But neither the document nor Southern Water can tell homeowners how much they will be paying for water from July 2012 because Economic Regulator Glenn Appleyard will not make the final decision on water charges or the fixed charge for at least another year.
He will take into account how much the water corporations want to charge, equipment upkeep, cost recovery for installing new meters in southern Tasmania and income needed to complete an estimated $1 billion of capital works statewide and balance it against cost-of-living pressures and fair prices charged in other jurisdictions.
Southern Water chief executive Mike Paine has already admitted prices will need to rise to ensure water corporations maintain services to keep Tasmania in line with national standards.
The State Government also must draft and release pricing regulations relating to the fixed and variable cost and how they will be charged.
Currently a flat fee based on the value of the property is charged regardless of usage.
Instead households are expected to pay a smaller fixed fee covering the corporations’ expenses and then pay for water usage after that, which could cost many less.
All determinations will be subject to community consultation.
