Fleurieu Peninsula residents challenge Water Minister to fix health problems from Myponga Reservoir supply

Locals near Myponga are demanding SA’s new government reverse a “critical mistake” in opening reservoirs to the public, and another key plan for them could be sunk too.

Fleurieu Peninsula residents supplied with water from Myponga Reservoir are demanding the new state government act to address health concerns from a chemical additive they claim has caused severe health problems.

The switch from chlorine to chloramine for disinfection, which coincided with opening reservoirs to the public under the former Liberal government, has been blamed for skin reactions, stomach upsets, headaches and sleeping problems, as well as making dogs and cats sick and killing pet fish.

Chloramine – essentially ammonia added to chlorine – is now in the water supply to 28,000 properties in towns and suburbs including Normanville, Victor Harbor, Hindmarsh Island and parts of Aldinga Beach.

Famed international environmental crusader Erin Brockovich threw her support behind residents last year, describing use of chloramine as “a critical mistake”.

Victor Harbor resident David de Brequet said he was tired of being “patronised, ignored and ridiculed” by authorities about his concerns, after SA Water repeatedly insisted chloramine was safe.

“The water is still at least two parts per million total ammonia,” Mr De Brequet said.

“It is unusable for aquariums and aquatic pets. This level cannot be ‘detoxified’ with water conditioner despite what SA Water say. My daughter can’t drink the tap water without becoming ill.”

John Stankovich wouldn’t drink the water from his tap, until he installed a whole-of-house filter at considerable cost. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

John Stankovich of Encounter Bay said he had spent about $1000 to install a whole-of-house water filter to avoid the health problems and that he would like to send the bill straight to SA Water.

In one of her first moves in the role, Water Minister Susan Close has written to SA Water asking whether opening the reservoirs to the public has posed any health risks.

“I’ve asked SA Water to give me written advice on the water quality issues because I want … in writing to be assured that there is no risk as far as SA Health is concerned,” she said.

“I assume that there isn’t, because I assume that they wouldn’t be open if there were (risks), so (the reservoirs) won’t close unless SA Health tell me that there’s a reason to.”

Myponga Reservoir. Chris Fenech with children Luke 10 and Ben 11 at Myponga Reservoir. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

She met with SA Water on Friday and the utility is preparing its written response.

Dr Close also queried a Liberal election commitment for overnight accommodation at reservoirs.

“I’ve got a very big question mark over how you manage the water quality with people staying overnight,” she said. “And whether there will be costs associated with having to increase the security.”

SA Water has previously said there was no link between opening reservoirs and the introduction of chloramine, saying it was about controlling levels of other chemicals called trihalomethanes – linked to cancer and reproductive health issues, which build up when chlorine reacts with leaves, soil and sediment.

SA Water is surveying the public online about reservoir reserve experiences to “help us understand what experiences are important to visitors and the benefits these spaces bring”.
Former Water Minister David Speirs, now in opposition, said the switch to using chloramine on the Fleurieu had nothing to do with opening up reservoirs.

“Opening up South Australia’s reservoirs has been incredibly popular with hundreds of thousands of visitors,” he said,

“Susan Close and the Labor Party have always been against this and despite it being perfectly safe, I have real concerns they will close reservoirs.

“At a time when green, open space is at a premium closing reservoirs would deny South Australians this great opportunity to explore the great outdoors which has significant physical and mental health benefits.”