South West Hospital and Health Service conduct audit after detecting lead, copper, nickel in drinking water

An audit is underway at several southwest hospitals after low levels of heavy metals were found in the drinking water, with staff now relying on bottled water for tasks including cooking and bathing infants.

An audit is underway after some taps tested above national guidelines for heavy metals.

The South West Hospital and Health Service is investigating how low levels of heavy metals made their way into the water supply at five health facilities across the region.

Very low levels of lead have been detected in the water supplies at the Quilpie, Surat and

Dirranbandi multipurpose health services and at the Bollon Community Clinic.

Although the levels of lead detected are low, they are still slightly above the Australian Drinking Water Guideline of 0.01 mg/L (milligrams per litre) for lead.

Acting chief executive Rebecca Greenway confirmed the levels at Quilpie and Bollon were 0.024 mg/L, with the other sites even lower.

“The plumbing outlets at all four facilities where lead levels were detected have been labelled as not for use while we investigate further to determine the sources of contamination and what rectification works, if any, might be necessary,” Ms Greenway said.

“The immediate health risks are minimal.

“However, while we undertake these investigations and out of an abundance of caution because our multipurpose health services are also home to vulnerable residential aged care residents, we are now using bottled water for drinking, cooking and infant bathing at all four facilities.

“The use of water for other general washing purposes is safe as metal microparticles, such as lead, must be inhaled or ingested to present a risk to health.”

A single tap at Roma Hospital has been turned off and isolated following minor levels of nickel detected.

Physical contact with lead does not present a health risk. However, ingestion of lead can cause health problems, with children and unborn babies more affected than adults.

At the Surat facility low levels of copper and nickel were also detected in some of the tapware and these too are being investigated.

In addition to the detections at Quilpie, Surat, Dirranbandi and Bollon, a single tap at Roma

Hospital recorded a low level of nickel that was slightly above the Australian Drinking Water

Guideline for that metal.

“We have isolated that tap while we flush and retest to see if the same results are recorded. The tap presents no risk to patients or staff,” she said.

The audit of the water quality at our health facilities has been undertaken in recent weeks as

part of a state-wide advice from the Department of Health for all health facilities to test for heavy metals.

This follows the detection in May and June of lead in water supplies at the health facility, school, and kindergarten in Yarrabah near Cairns, as well as a health service building at Atherton Hospital.

The quality of water supplies at all other health facilities in the South West complied with all Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

Originally published as South West Hospital and Health Service conduct audit after detecting lead, copper, nickel in drinking water