Results of testing at Yarrabah after lead found in school water supply
The state government insists water at Yarrabah is safe to drink – but has warned residents to flush taps “for about 30 seconds” first.
The state government maintains water at Yarrabah is safe – but has advised people to flush taps “for about 30 seconds” first.
Staff and patients at the Yarrabah Health Facility were advised on May 3 to drink only bottled water, following the detection of elevated levels of copper in the water supply.
Students and staff at Yarrabah schools were advised to drink bottled water on June 7 after lead was detected.
But testing has confirmed water meets the Australian drinking water guidelines, following extensive investigations by a multi-agency task force, deputy director-general water resource management Jarrod Cowley-Grimmond said.
“We would strongly urge residents to flush their kitchen taps, for about 30 seconds each morning,” he said.
“This is a normal process that all households should follow, no matter where they are.
“Contaminants such as lead can sometimes leach into drinking water from plumbing fittings, so flushing water through your taps each day can ensure the removal of stagnant water and these possible contaminants.
“It is also recommended that people run their kitchen tap for two minutes if they haven’t used it for more than two days,” he said.
Mr Cowley-Grimmond said running taps before drinking the water would flush out any residual heavy metals such as lead and copper from household plumbing.
“The elevated lead levels that have been found in the Yarrabah water from the health and education facilities and residences are principally confined to some samples from the water supply within buildings before flushing,” he said.
Queensland’s chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said of the 218 blood tests for heavy metals conducted at Yarrabah, none indicated there was a contamination risk from the town’s water.
He said larger buildings like Yarrabah health facility “had more complex plumbing, and this has contributed to the elevated heavy metals in their water pipes and fittings”.
Dr Gerrard said the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) was working with engineers on plumbing.
Plumbing will be investigated at the town’s schools.
Bottled water will continue to be provided at the health and education facilities in the meantime.
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Originally published as Results of testing at Yarrabah after lead found in school water supply
