Gretna residents demand State Government action on water quality

WATER contamination in a Tasmanian town has deteriorated to the point residents have been warned against washing babies and toddlers in it.

Gretna residents L-R Gordon Wadsworth and Kate Barnett deliver letters of protest to Premier Will Hodgman with regard to the state of the town water that continues to have to be boiled for human consumption.

WATER contamination in a Tasmanian town has deteriorated to the point residents have been warned against washing babies and toddlers in it.

In its latest boil-water alert to Gretna, TasWater warns parents and carers to only sponge the very young in case they swallow the water.

Anger about their worsening water conditions saw some Gretna residents present a petition to staff at Hobart’s Executive Building yesterday, demanding the State Government step in to improve the quality of their water supply.

The residents have been lobbying for drinkable water for the past six years, in which time their water quality has deteriorated.

Residents Kate Barnett and Gordon Wadsworth said Tasmanian communities deserved better.

“We want quality and we want quantity,” Mrs Barnett said.

The residents have to boil their drinking water and replace appliances such as hot water systems ruined by silt build-up.

TasWater wrote to Gretna residents at the end of last year advising that the untreated water supply had deteriorated further and more stringent boiling requirements were needed before it could be used for drinking, brushing teeth, washing and preparing food, making up baby formula or making ice.

The letter advises against washing babies and toddlers in case they swallow the water.

Residents say they should be compensated for ruined household appliances and increased power costs associated with constantly boiling water.

TasWater CEO Mike Brewster said he was aware of Gretna’s concerns and the organisation was considering options to upgrade the town’s water supply.

Mr Brewster said TasWater had a legal obligation to provide communities with safe drinking water, but had to do so in an economically responsible manner.

TasWater had presented the community with options for an upgraded water supply, including a new treatment plant, connection to water piped from Lake Fenton or compensating for water tanks.

A community survey commissioned by TasWater indicated a preference for a new treatment plant or water pipe from Lake Fenton.

“As reported to the community, TasWater’s costings indicate upgrading Gretna’s water supply will cost around $50,000 per property,” Mr Brewster said.

More economical options were being considered.

Residents said they did not want to rely on tank water as they had low rainfall and it could devalue their properties.

Mrs Barnett said she feared tourists over summer may fall ill, since signs alerting the public to unsafe water were put in public parks only on Monday.

Mr Wadsworth said it was time Tasmanian communities affected by poor quality water were brought into line with national standards.

Mr Brewster said TasWater hoped to upgrade or address the water quality issues in 16 of the affected communities around Tasmania by 2016.

On alert

Permanent alerts:

Avoca (do not consume)

Branxholm

Cornwall

Derby

Ellendale

Fingal

Franklin (Jackson Rd only)

Gladstone

Gormanston

Gretna

Herrick

Judbury

Lady Barron

Ledgerwood

Mathinna

Mole Creek

Mountain River

Pioneer (do not consume)

Ringarooma

Rossarden (do not consume)

Whitemark (do not consume)

Winnaleah (do not consume)

Temporary alerts:

Conara Boil Water Alert

Nicholls Rivulet

Scamander Boil Water Alert

Tunbridge Boil Water Alert

Wayatinah Boil Water Alert