Clarence Valley Council on level four water restrictions due to dirty water event in Nymboida River

Severe water restrictions are now in place across the Clarence Valley. Here’s why the council has limited water usage.

Level four water restrictions have been issued across the Clarence Valley due to a prolonged dirty water event in the Nymboida River.

Clarence Valley Council said the restrictions have been introduced to avoid the need for a boil water alert across the whole water supply system.

Level 4 restrictions ban all outside watering. Commercial and industrial water users should refer to the Water Restrictions policy on the council’s website for permitted uses.

Restrictions will be reviewed when water quality in the Nymboida River improves.

Level four water restrictions have been issued across the valley. Picture: Luis Tosa

It comes as Coutts Crossing residents have been urged to boil their water due recent rainfall events causing problems and making drinking water unsafe.

The council issued an alert on Monday afternoon, warning locals of the poor water quality.

“We are currently working to fix the problem. The boil water alert will remain in place until further notice,” a spokesperson said.

They said since the February-March 2022 rainfall and flooding, the turbidity – a measure of how dirty the water is – has remained above 19NTU (nephelometric turbidity unit).

It means the water is untreatable for drinking water. The maximum turbidity allowed for drinking water is 3.5NTU.

Nymboida River is experiencing a prolonged dirty water event.

“While there have been numerous rainfall events since Shannon Creek Dam was commissioned in November 2008, this is the first time in more than 14 years of operation that the dam turbidity has not returned to below 3.5NTU within six to 12 weeks of a rainfall event,” the spokesperson said.

“This continued high turbidity is thought to be a result of impacts from the 2019 bushfires, which burned most of the Shannon Creek Dam catchment.

“Until now water has been pumped directly from the Nymboida River (bypassing the dam), which due to the most recent rainfall event is currently too dirty to continue pumping into the system.”

Coutts Crossing residents have been urged to boil their water. Picture: Thinkstock

The council said water used for drinking or food preparation should be brought to a rolling boil to make it safe.

Kettles with automatic shut-off switches can do this. Water should then be allowed to cool and stored in a clean container with a lid and refrigerated.

Bottled water or cool boiled water should be used for drinking, washing uncooked food such as salad, vegetables and fruit, making ice, cleaning teeth, gargling and pet’s drinking water.

Dishes should be washed in hot soapy water or in a dishwasher.

Children should take bottled water or cool boiled water to school/childcare.

The boil water alert applies to all water consumers in the Coutts Crossing Village.