E coli hits Salmon Ponds following waste spill and fish deaths in the area
Water at a Southern Tasmanian tourist attraction has been contaminated by an infectious bacteria – with fears it could spread into neighbouring waterways. DETAILS >>
Tasmania
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AUSTRALIA’s oldest trout hatchery has been contaminated by an infectious bacteria from an unknown source.
Popular Derwent Valley attraction the Salmon Ponds has been hit with E coli, with the nearby Plenty River also feared to be infected.
The Salmon Ponds are home to a historic trout hatchery and ponds, a museum, a picnic area and licenced restaurant and cafe Pancakes by the Ponds.
A Department of Primary Industries spokeswoman said water samples taken by Inland Fisheries Service at the site had detected the E coli in the drinking water.
“The restaurant operators were notified by the Department of Public Health advising the water was not suitable to drink,” she said.
“IFS initially supplied bottled water to the restaurant but have since installed a 12,000 litre tank and had water delivered.
“Notices have been placed on the taps in the public toilets in the grounds advising not to drink the water.
“The existing in-line filters are being inspected and upgrades considered based on advice from an expert contractor.”
The contamination comes after an incident on September 23 where 120,000 brown trout fry, 13,000 rainbow trout fry, 43 brook trout brook stock and 28 display fish died of contamination.
In September local residents along the Plenty River also described foul smelling sludge in the river which “stank like treated sewerage”, with the EPA confirming an investigation was being conducted into “an incident of polluted water at the Salmon Ponds”.
When asked by the Mercury about the E coli contamination, EPA director Wes Ford said all matters associated with drinking water needed to be referred to Public Health.
A Public Health spokesman said they were notified of water samples exceeding Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
“There is no risk to the broader community, as the Inland Fisheries Service has taken prompt action to restrict access to taps and erect warning signs on affected sources,” he said.
“Work is continuing on identifying and addressing the source of the exceedence. The level of bacteria detected is not necessarily attributable to a single source or event, as bacteria occurs naturally.
“There is also no way to relate this level of E coli back to what might be expected in untreated water from the Plenty River.”
The spokesman said water taken from the Derwent River for drinking purposes is always fully treated and verified by TasWater.
“This ensures water quality and safety, as well as compliance with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines,” he said.
“Public Health urges Tasmanians not to drink untreated water, particularly from raw water sources such as local rivers.”
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