Complaints flood in as Logan council flushes new disinfectant through tap water network

Dozens of complaints about stinky tap water south of Brisbane have been registered after a local council started flushing its water network with a new disinfectant cleaning fluid.

Dozens of complaints about stinky tap water and itchy skin south of Brisbane have been registered after a local council started flushing its water network with a disinfectant cleaning fluid.

Logan City Council issued a statement to inform alarmed residents that it was completing essential maintenance on the network and there was no contamination issue and the water remained safe to drink and continued to meet Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

But it said it was changing the disinfectant in the water supply from chloramine to chlorine while the cleaning occurred.

“Over the past 10 weeks, the council has conducted more than 5000 tests in the project area and all results were well within the Australian guidelines and the water remains safe for consumption,” the council said.

Residents were being notified via flyers in their letterboxes at least seven days before the new disinfectant was administered in their area.

Logan resident Carina Poz said she could not drink the tap water anymore.

“I’m getting a rash all over my back from the shower,” she wrote on Facebook.

“My partner can’t breathe in there either because the chlorine fumes are suffocating.”

Another resident, Maadison Jays said her baby daughter’s face had swollen and gone red during the change in water.

Logan City Council is flushing out its water network.

“I’ve had to cut back on bathing her and I’ve noticed her face isn’t as red,” she wrote on Facebook.

“We had to buy a shower filter which I’m waiting for it to be delivered.”

Deputy mayor Jon Raven told residents Australian guidelines for tap water recommended five parts per million of chlorine in tap water compared to three parts per million for a residential swimming pool.

But he said the average quantity of chlorine in the project flushing zone was less than 1.3 parts per million and in some areas of the city was one part per million.

“That means that some areas could have less than 1.3 parts per million and some could have more depending on where you are in the network, which is why people get different experiences and why it’s so important to contact me or council if you’re having issues so we can investigate what’s happening and help you.”

The flushing works, which started in May, were being conducted on pipes across the city with Berrinba, Crestmead, Cornubia, Carbrook, Marsden, Meadowbrook, Shailer Park, Tanah Merah, Loganholme, Heritage Park, Waterford West, Park Ridge, Loganlea, Logan Reserve and Browns Plains getting the cleansing.

A spokesman said the maintenance was necessary to keep the water network clean and to ensure it would continue meeting the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

“Council is undertaking activities to minimise the impact to residents, including network flushing,” the statement said.

Works notices for the project can be found online on the Logan Council website and residents can also call 3412 3412 or email [e-mail] with concerns.