Update - BOIL WATER ALERT - Village of Glenreagh
Published on 24 November 2023
Glenreagh Boil Water Alert Update - 24 November 2023
The new hired water filter plant arrived on Thursday, 16 November; staff have been busy installing the new unit along with a pre-clarifier tank, pressure booster pumps and chemical dosing equipment.
The pipe work is complete, and the electrical connections will be completed by this afternoon (Fri, 24 Nov).
Next week, the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) will be commissioned and tested to ensure water quality meets standards.
While we are commissioning the new WTP, Council will be meeting with the Health Department and the Department of Planning and Environment to discuss the requirements to remove the BWA.
In the meantime, the boil water alert remains in place for the village of Glenreagh.
Bottled water or cool boiled water should be used for drinking, washing uncooked food (e.g. salad vegetables and fruit), making ice, cleaning teeth, gargling and pet’s drinking water.
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Glenreagh Boil Water Alert Update - 16 November 2023
What's happened since the last update?
◾ This morning, a new rental water filtration plant was delivered to Glenreagh.
◾ Minor earthworks will take place today (16 Nov) and tomorrow (17 Nov) to level the area for the clarifier, backwash tank and pumps.
What happens next?
◾ Commissioning of the filtration plant will take place next week and may take two weeks to be fully operational.
◾ Water Rentals have been booked to start commissioning the plant on the second week. This allows us time to connect all pipework and electrical cabling so the plant can be commissioned.
◾ Council will be considering assistance for impacted customers at its November ordinary council meeting.
What we want you to do
◾ Impacted businesses are encouraged to contact Council’s insurance officer.
◾ Water used for drinking or food preparation should be brought to a rolling boil to make it safe. Kettles with automatic shut off switches can do this. Water should then be allowed to cool and stored in a clean container with a lid and refrigerated.
◾ Everyone, particularly people caring for young children, should be careful to avoid scalding, when you are heating and then cooling the water.
◾ Bottled water or cool boiled water should be used for drinking, washing uncooked food (e.g. salad vegetables and fruit), making ice, cleaning teeth, gargling and pet’s drinking water.
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Glenreagh Boil Water Alert Update - 6 November 2023
Clarence Valley Council has secured an alternate filtration plant for Glenreagh. Site set-up will require installation of a tank followed by the filtration plant, power supply upgrades and new pumps.
Councillors will consider rebates for affected customers at the Ordinary Council Meeting at Grafton on 28 November. Commercial customers who have suffered loss are advised to submit claims to Council for assessment.
In the meantime, the boil water alert remains in place for the village of Glenreagh. We thank the community for their patience while this matter is resolved.
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Glenreagh Boil Water Alert Update - 26 October 2023
What we know
Due to increased turbidity in the drinking water for Glenreagh, a precautionary Boiled Water Alert has been issued.
Initial attempts to resolve the turbidity levels at the Glenreagh Water Treatment Plant have been unsuccessful.
More source water analysis is required for the new filtration unit's final configuration.
Some power supply upgrades are required and have been scheduled.
Extra infrastructure in the form of storage tanks and pressure pumps will be required on-site.
What we don't know
When the boil water alert will be lifted.
We are working a fast a possible to provide a filtration system that will meet the drinking water quality requirements however it is still taking some time to achieve, we are unable to give an exact date at this point in time.
What we're doing
Council has met with the Department of Planning and Environment along with the Public Health Unit to discuss alternate water filtration options.
Council has installed an online turbidity meter at the Glenreagh water treatment Plant.
Council has sourced a filtration unit that is available for hire.
Daily water samples are still being taken with no E-coli detected.
The existing disinfection units are working to specifications.
What we want you to do
Water used for drinking or food preparation should be brought to a rolling boil to make it safe. Kettles with automatic shut off switches can do this. Water should then be allowed to cool and stored in a clean container with a lid and refrigerated.
Everyone, particularly people caring for young children, should be careful to avoid scalding, when you are heating and then cooling the water.
Bottled water or cool boiled water should be used for drinking, washing uncooked food (e.g. salad vegetables and fruit), making ice, cleaning teeth, gargling and pet’s drinking water.
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Update - 19 October 2023
Glenreagh residents and businesses can expect a boil water alert to remain in place in the village for another three to four weeks.
Clarence Valley Council and NSW Health issued a precautionary alert on 11 October due to increased turbidity levels in the drinking water.
Initial attempts to resolve the turbidity levels at the Glenreagh Water Treatment Plant have been unsuccessful, and Council is actively pursuing replacement filtration system options.
"We are currently doing every thing we can to alleviate the situation as fast as possible and should have a clearer timeline by next week of when it will be resolved," Clarence Valley Council Manager Water and Sewer Operations Andrew Potter said.
"Council hired a temporary filtration unit for Glenreagh in February 2023. While it has been effective in reducing turbidity, it has failed to return drinking water quality to the required level since we started drawing water from Shannon Creek Dam due to low flow conditions of the Nymboida River."
Daily water samples continue to be collected for laboratory analysis with no detection of E. coli. Ultra violet and chlorine disinfection treatment units continue to function to the required standards.
Check the Clarence Valley Council website or follow Clarence Valley Council on Facebook for the latest updates.
What residents should do:
- Water used for drinking or food preparation should be brought to a rolling boil to make it safe. Kettles with automatic shut off switches can do this. Water should then be allowed to cool and stored in a clean container with a lid and refrigerated.
- Everyone, particularly people caring for young children, should be careful to avoid scalding, when you are heating and then cooling the water.
- Bottled water or cool boiled water should be used for drinking, washing uncooked food (e.g. salad vegetables and fruit), making ice, cleaning teeth, gargling and pet’s drinking water.
- Dishes should be washed in hot soapy water or in a dishwasher.
- Children should take bottled water or cool boiled water to school/childcare.
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Update - 12 October 2023
What we know:
- The filtration plant has not captured the extremely fine particles in the source water.
- Due to increased turbidity in the drinking water for Glenreagh, a precautionary Boiled Water Alert has been issued.
- The disinfection treatment units are functioning providing Ultra Violet and Chlorine disinfection.
- Laboratory results confirm no E coli detection.
What we don’t know:
- When the Boil Water Alert will be lifted
What we are doing:
- Daily water samples being collected and sent to the laboratory.
- Investigations into alternate filtration options underway with the filtration plant supplier.
What we want you to do:
- Water used for drinking or food preparation should be brought to a rolling boil to make it safe. Kettles with automatic shut off switches can do this. Water should then be allowed to cool and stored in a clean container with a lid and refrigerated.
- Everyone, particularly people caring for young children, should be careful to avoid scalding, when you are heating and then cooling the water.
- Bottled water or cool boiled water should be used for drinking, washing uncooked food (e.g. salad vegetables and fruit), making ice, cleaning teeth, gargling and pet’s drinking water.
- Dishes should be washed in hot soapy water or in a dishwasher.
- Children should take bottled water or cool boiled water to school/childcare.
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Due to issues with the filtration plant at the Glenreagh Water Treatment Plant higher than normal turbidity levels have been detected.
The increase in turbidity will cause problems with water treatment, making drinking water in the Glenreagh water supply system unsafe from today 11 October 2023.
Council and NSW Health have assessed the situation and a boil water alert is being implemented until further notice.
- Water used for drinking or food preparation should be brought to a rolling boil to make it safe. Kettles with automatic shut off switches can do this. Water should then be allowed to cool and stored in a clean container with a lid and refrigerated.
- Everyone, particularly people caring for young children, should be careful to avoid scalding, when you are heating and then cooling the water.
- Bottled water or cool boiled water should be used for drinking, washing uncooked food (e.g. salad vegetables and fruit), making ice, cleaning teeth, gargling and pet’s drinking water.
- Dishes should be washed in hot soapy water or in a dishwasher.
- Children should take bottled water or cool boiled water to school.
Clarence Valley Council will continue to manage and monitor the situation until the quality of drinking water in the main water supply system returns to normal.
This advice should be followed until further notice.
The NSW Health website also includes special considerations for: