‘Grassy’ tap water sparks outrage as authorities grapple with wild weather

Residents have vented frustration at bizarre changes to their tap water as authorities grapple with recent wild weather.

Tap water nourishing residents across swathes of southeast Queensland will change in “taste and odour” as authorities grapple with heavy rains and hot weather affecting the water supply.

Queensland water supplier, SEQwater, warned residents in parts of Brisbane, Ipswich, and Logan on Tuesday their water may temporarily change, but remained “completely safe to drink”.

It comes after residents complained about changes to the taste and an “earthy” smell of water coming from their taps, with SEQwater blaming recent heavy rains and flooding for the issue.

Those conditions, coupled with recent hot weather, resulted in an increase in naturally occurring organic compounds, known MIB (Methylisoborneol), at Mount Crosby Water Treatment Plant.

SEQwater said water from the treatment plant, located southwest of Brisbane, remained safe to drink and use as normal, but could result in water taking on an “earthy and grassy” smell.

Residents in parts of Brisbane, Logan, and Ipswich will be impacted.Picture: NCA NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

“People who are particularly sensitive to taste may notice this and during this time we recommend cooling the water may help reduce any earthy taste in the tap water,” SEQwater said.

“SEQwater is working 24-7 to move large amounts of water around the SEQwater Grid to help with the flow and improve the taste, we have also increased monitoring of the process.”

Residents were told they should expect water to start returning to normal over coming days, pending weather conditions, with SEQwater working with Urban Utilities and Logan Water.

Despite the assurances, Logan Mayor Jon Raven announced on Tuesday that water from the local desalination plant will be “maximised in availability” in response to the recent issues.

“Thank you to everyone who emailed through the impacts they were experiencing from the water quality issues,” Mr Raven said in an update posted to Facebook on New Years Eve.

Logan Mayor Jon Raven.

“That information was very helpful to demonstrate to SEQwater that this was too serious to wait for it to resolve on its own.

“While they maintain the water is safe to drink, they acknowledge that the flavour and odour changes are significant.”

In response to concerns raised by residents, Mr Raven said SEQwater had increased desalination plant output to full, and lowered production from Mt Crosby to “dilute the water”.

“This will mean you should notice a change in flavour and odour soon – however it may get worse as it gets better in some parts of the network as the earthy tasting water is pushed through the network”.

The recent change to the region’s tap water angered locals who took to social media to call for compensation, with one person stating “I’m not paying my water bill next time”.

Others were less fussed, with one person stating: “People should be thankful that they have safe clean water to drink 24/7. All this complaining is ridiculous. If people are so fussy then go buy a water filter.”