Wide Bay Water responds to complaints over Hervey Bay water

Complaints from some Hervey Bay residents about cramps, nausea and the smell and taste of the town water supply have been addressed by Wide Bay Water and the Fraser Coast council. Read what’s going on and what to do.

The Teddington Water Treatment Plant. Photo: Contributed.

The unusual taste and smell of the Hervey Bay water supply in recent weeks has caused concern for many residents.

While some locals did not notice a difference, others believed it had made them sick.

Diane Jarvis has lived in Urraween for 20 years and said she believed the water had recently given she and her neighbour “terrible” stomach cramps.

“I said to her, I’m starting to think that it might be the water,” Ms Jarvis said.

She said her cramps started on March 21 and lasted two to three days, along with mild nausea.

After a process of elimination, she said to her neighbour “it’s got to be the water”.

“I started boiling my water and it gradually started to improve, she did the same, and she improved as well,” Ms Jarvis said.

She described the tap water as tasting “stale”.

“It tasted stale, like if you’ve left a cup of water next to your bed overnight, you know, you get that kind of stale taste,” she said.

Ms Jarvis said that in 20 years, she had never before had an issue with the local drinking water.

Other Hervey Bay residents speculated on social media as to the cause of the strange tasting water coming out of their taps.

Peter Recks said he had to change filter cartridges.

“I have a good filter on the tap ... but have to change the cartridges since the floods even though they were only about a month old whereas before it was every three months,” he said.

“Maybe a lot of run-off from farms has made it into the catchment during the floods..??”

Trevor Boulton said the water had a “muddy taste for the last few weeks in Torquay”.

Jenny Smedley said “the water at Pt Vernon is undrinkable at the moment and it smells”.

The Teddington Water Treatment Plant. Photo: Contributed.

Wide Bay Water director Mark Vanner said there was no need for the community to boil their water.

“There is no requirement for water to be boiled, although residents may find that keeping drinking water chilled in the fridge and/or running the tap for a minute reduces any unusual taste and odours,” he said.

Mr Vanner said residents may notice the drinking water at Hervey Bay had an “earthy taste or odour”.

“Residents may have noticed changes in the taste of drinking water in Hervey Bay and surrounding areas,” Mr Vanner said.

“This is due to elevated levels of naturally occurring organic compounds in the water that can make it have an earthy taste or odour.

“This is not uncommon, and events such as floods can change the characteristics of raw water that enters the treatment plant.

“In response to these changes, the treatment process operating procedures are adjusted to ensure the plant continues to produce safe drinking water.”

Fraser Coast Regional Council said the organic compounds originated from plants and animals in natural waters and catchment areas, with some resulting in tastes and odours in the water supply.

Specifically, the compounds referred to are Geosmin and Methyl-Isoborneol (MIB).

Mr Vanner said the unusual taste would start to disappear as the water stabilised.

“In addition, as the raw water in our dams and weirs stabilises, we anticipate the cause of the unusual taste and odour to break up and disappear.

“During recent testing, elevated treatment process by-products were identified to be outside of the target health parameter, and further adjustments have been made to bring the water quality back within routine operating ranges,” he said.

“Follow up testing over the weekend has indicated that these changes were effective and council continues to actively monitor and manage drinking water quality.

“The drinking water is being produced in line with Council’s Drinking Water Management Plan, which includes regular contact with the relevant regulatory agencies.

“We will update the community further as the situation evolves and as we receive further advice.”

The Teddington Water Treatment Plant. Photo: Contributed.