Territory dam hit with toxic algae

A BLUE-GREEN algae bloom has taken out a remote Territory community’s main water supply for the past four months – and the cost of engineering a solution could hit $1 million

Infastructure Minister Delia Lawrie opens the dam at Yuelamu.

A BLUE-GREEN algae bloom has taken out a remote Territory community’s main water supply for the past four months – and the cost of engineering a solution could hit $1 million.

The dam at Yuelamu community — 290km northwest of Alice Springs — has been isolated from the pipe system since the algae bloom was detected in November.

NT Power and Water remote operations boss Scott Robertson said blue-green algae had never been found in the dam before, and toxin levels “far exceeded what would be considered safe to drink”.

“Given the extended period of the dam being out of service, a number of supply options have been investigated ... they are expensive and none guarantees the algae will not come back,” he said.

Mr Robertson said residents had been supplied with 5L jerry cans to collect bore water — processed in an advanced water treatment plant — from the Power and Water compound for cooking and drinking in the interim.

The school, clinic and aged care get cask water delivered, and vulnerable people are provided with safe drinking water. Residents also received non-potable bore water to their homes through the piped system for washing and hygiene, at a total cost of about $120,000.

“This guarantees safe drinking water to the Yuelamu community until the algae goes away,” Mr Robertson said.

He said the costs associated with engineering a solution were about $1 million, including the installation of two sets of pipes to each property for potable and non-potable water, and sinking a new bore.