SA Health-approved auditor’s report warns of safety risks by opening reservoirs to recreation activities

A confidential audit on the safety of Adelaide’s drinking water could derail a key state Liberal Party election pledge to open up SA reservoirs to recreational activities.

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A key state election pledge to open up SA reservoirs to recreational activities like fishing and sailing raises “major challenges” to the safety of Adelaide’s drinking water, a confidential audit has warned.

And massive new spending is needed for bug-killing treatment plants, it says.

The State Government has permitted partial access at Myponga and has further plans for South Para and Hope Valley reservoirs.

READ BELOW: ANALYSIS — RESERVOIR DOGGED BY TRICKY HURDLES

Recreational activities around the Happy Valley reservoir are also earmarked as the centrepiece of the new Glenthorne National Park project.

Environment and Water Minister David Speirs on Tuesday told The Advertiser the Government remained “committed” to its promise, which was being implemented with caution to protect SA’s drinking water.

The report, commissioned for SA Water and produced by SA Health-approved auditor Water Futures, finds the promise can't be achieved quickly without threatening public health.

“SA Water has been newly required to open up its metropolitan reservoirs by order of the SA Government on one hand, but at the same time is bound by its longstanding obligation to protect water quality on the other,” the report states.

FAMILY FUN: Jeff and Tanya George with twins Chloe and Liam at Myponga reservoir on Tuesday. Picture: Mark Brake

“The two obligations are not compatible within the short term, as there simply isn’t time to follow due process and complete implementation of new infrastructure and barriers. “Such infrastructure upgrades will take many years, and probably more than one RBP (regulatory business proposal) to complete. Therefore, from early to mid 2019, SA Water looks to be entering into a state of multiple non-compliances with its drinking water quality obligations until such time as it can construct the infrastructure required to rebalance the risk.”

An RBP is a four-year plan that SA Water puts to an independent regulator setting out plans for raising bills to fund infrastructure upgrades. The current RBP ends in 2020.

The report’s major contamination concerns centre on a possible outbreak of cryptosporidium, caused when humans shed microorganisms into the water and drinking supply. Cryptosporidium can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses involving watery diarrhoea and persistent cough. It may be fatal in people with a severely compromised immune system.

The Opposition, which obtained the report, is demanding an immediate ban on all public access at Myponga, where “on water” activity is not allowed, given the audit finding that it’s “inevitable” some people will flout the system and ignore signs and barriers.

The State Government has permitted partial access at Myponga. Picture: Supplied

The report says SA Water knows that the upgrade of treatment plants and installation of ultraviolet decontamination, which would bring city reservoir filtration to a similar standard as that which applies for the River Murray, are needed to ensure public safety.

Opposition environment spokeswoman Susan Close accused him of showing a “scandalous disregard” for public health by hastily pushing ahead with a half-baked political promise. She said Mr Speirs, criticised by the River Murray Royal Commission for acting “contrary to the interests” of SA and capitulating to the eastern states, often ignored expert advice.

“The Marshall Liberal Government assured the people of SA that opening Myponga Reservoir was safe,” Dr Close said. “Yet SA Water is in possession of an independent audit report warning that opening any metropolitan reservoir risks contaminating our water supply.”

Mr Speirs said opening up reservoirs would “provide incredible recreational, environmental and economic opportunities for South Australians for generations to come”. A reservoirs task force including health and SA Water representatives is overseeing the plan.

Mr Speirs said the audit report “has helped inform the State Government’s decision-making to ensure appropriate measures and controls are in place for opening up reservoirs”. “The task force will continue to assess what infrastructure requirements are necessary. “We want to ensure we get the process right, which will not be rushed.”

Northgate couple Jeff and Tanya George took their eight-year-old twins Chloe and Liam to the Myponga reservoir yesterday, on the way back from a trip to Kangaroo Island.

Mr George said opening up the reservoir to the public was a “fantastic development”.

What the report said

“SA Water activities looking at understanding and managing the risks associated with opening up the … storages to public access were being completed by distracting existing staff from their normal duties which, in turn, impaired those duties.”

“The current proposals appear set to lead to multiple non-compliances with the ADWG (Australian drinking water guidelines).”

“The management of risks from pathogens requires the proactive implementation of preventive barriers prior to, and not in response to, the detection of significant risk, community illness or pathogen presence, and not merely reactive responses after the fact.”

“SA Water should request that no such access be granted until due process is allowed to run its course and until any necessary preventive protections are reliably implemented.”

“Significant capital expenditure and major increases in operational resourcing and capacity may be required to improve ADWG compliance.”

“Given sufficient additional time and budget, it may be possible for SA Water … to follow due process, build the required capacity and infrastructure, and adopt reliable, verifiable good practices that permit public access.”

Analysis:

RESERVOIR DOGGED BY TRICKY HURDLES

By Daniel Wills

Some things turn out to be much easier said than done. Elections are fought at many levels, and a modest local pledge to open up reservoirs can swing voters in critical seats and suburbs.

Don’t underestimate how powerful the idea of getting out on the water with a fishing rod at a local dam can be to someone in a ballot box.

With a lawyer’s glasses on, it can be argued that Premier Steven Marshall and his Environment and Water Minister David Speirs are right on track to meet the promise.

Premier Steven Marshall and Water Minister David Speirs.

The “opening up our reservoirs” policy said the Liberals “anticipated” that recreational activities “could include” walking, cycling, kayaking, sailing and fishing.

It came with the additional get-out-of-jail clause that the new Government “will ensure that the opening of each reservoir is undertaken with great care to prevent any possible adverse impacts on the quality and security of our drinking water supplies”.

But the average fisho would be forgiven for having been left with the impression it was all going to happen the day after the election. If it’s okay on the Murray, why not Happy Valley too? This report makes clear that there are significant hurdles ahead for Mr Speirs, as bug-killing infrastructure including ultraviolet technology is needed to bring dams up to standard. That will take significant time, and money.

This report will trigger fierce new argument on the merits of having already partially opened Myponga, as the Opposition targets a minister it believes is already weakened.

Mr Speirs has been bullish about the reservoirs policy, and hopes to allow fishing at Myponga by the year’s end.

He will need to start showing clear results to keep faith with many of the quiet people that helped it into power.