Australian Drinking Water Map

Boil your water or risk gastro-like symptoms’: Drinking water compromised in two Victorian towns

https://www.9news.com.au/national/kyneton-and-malmsbury–water-updates-residents-living-in-victorian-town-urged-to-boil-drinking-water/259a92ff-04cb-4510-b44f-fbe44e11d1bc

Residents in two Victorian towns have been warned to boil their drinking water or risk vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
The safety of the drinking water in Kyneton and Malmsbury, in the Macedon Ranges, was compromised after a water main burst about 1am on Tuesday, resulting in low pressure in the water system.
A health alert was issued to advise residents to boil any water being used to drink, prepare food or beverages, brush teeth, freeze for ice or to make baby formula to avoid “gastro-like symptoms”.
Water needs to be brought to a rolling boil “until a continuous and rapid stream of air-bubbles is produced from the bottom of a pan or kettle”.
“After heating, water must be allowed to cool before using it,” Coliban Water said.
“It can then be stored in a clean, closed container for later use.”

2008/14 –  Malmsbury (Victoria) E.coli

2008/9 Malmsbury E.coli  1/100mL (98.1% samples no e.coli ) (1 positive)

1/3/12 Malmsbury E.coli  1/100mL

15/3/12 Malmsbury E.coli  2/100mL

2013/14 Malmsbury E.coli  1/100mL (98.1% samples no e.coli ) (1 positive)

“E.coli

Thermotolerant coliforms are a sub-group of coliforms that are able to grow at 44.5 ± 0.2°C. E. coli is the most common thermotolerant coliform present in faeces and is regarded as the most specific indicator of recent faecal contamination because generally it is not capable of growth in the environment. In contrast, some other thermotolerant coliforms (including strains of Klebsiella, Citrobacter and Enterobacter) are able to grow in the environment and their presence is not necessarily related to faecal contamination. While tests for thermotolerant coliforms can be simpler than for E. coli, E. coli is considered a superior indicator for detecting faecal contamination…” ADWG

Malmsbury (Victoria) – Lead

2011/12: Malmsbury Lead 0.004mg/L (max), 0.0005 (min.)

Lead Guideline reduced from 0.01mg/L to 0.005mg/L in June 2025. “The concentration of lead in water within premises may be higher, especially in older buildings, due to contact of the water with lead-containing plumbing products (enHealth 2021). A review found several Australian and international studies that detected up to 0.162 mg/L of lead in drinking water due to leaching from lead-containing plumbing materials including taps and lead service lines, suggesting that leaching of lead from lead-containing plumbing materials can be substantial (SLR 2023)… Based on health considerations, the concentration of lead in drinking water should not exceed 0.005 mg/L.”

2008/14 +2023 – Malmsbury (Victoria) – E.coli, Lead

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‘Boil your water or risk gastro-like symptoms’: Drinking water compromised in two Victorian towns

https://www.9news.com.au/national/kyneton-and-malmsbury–water-updates-residents-living-in-victorian-town-urged-to-boil-drinking-water/259a92ff-04cb-4510-b44f-fbe44e11d1bc
Residents in two Victorian towns have been warned to boil their drinking water or risk vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
The safety of the drinking water in Kyneton and Malmsbury, in the Macedon Ranges, was compromised after a water main burst about 1am on Tuesday, resulting in low pressure in the water system.
A health alert was issued to advise residents to boil any water being used to drink, prepare food or beverages, brush teeth, freeze for ice or to make baby formula to avoid “gastro-like symptoms”.
Water needs to be brought to a rolling boil “until a continuous and rapid stream of air-bubbles is produced from the bottom of a pan or kettle”.
“After heating, water must be allowed to cool before using it,” Coliban Water said.
“It can then be stored in a clean, closed container for later use.”
2008/14 –  Malmsbury (Victoria) E.coli 2008/9 Malmsbury E.coli  1/100mL (98.1% samples no e.coli ) (1 positive) 1/3/12 Malmsbury E.coli  1/100mL 15/3/12 Malmsbury E.coli  2/100mL 2013/14 Malmsbury E.coli  1/100mL (98.1% samples no e.coli ) (1 positive)
“E.coli
Thermotolerant coliforms are a sub-group of coliforms that are able to grow at 44.5 ± 0.2°C. E. coli is the most common thermotolerant coliform present in faeces and is regarded as the most specific indicator of recent faecal contamination because generally it is not capable of growth in the environment. In contrast, some other thermotolerant coliforms (including strains of Klebsiella, Citrobacter and Enterobacter) are able to grow in the environment and their presence is not necessarily related to faecal contamination. While tests for thermotolerant coliforms can be simpler than for E. coli, E. coli is considered a superior indicator for detecting faecal contamination…” ADWG Malmsbury (Victoria) – Lead 2011/12: Malmsbury Lead 0.004mg/L (max), 0.0005 (min.) Lead Guideline reduced from 0.01mg/L to 0.005mg/L in June 2025. “The concentration of lead in water within premises may be higher, especially in older buildings, due to contact of the water with lead-containing plumbing products (enHealth 2021). A review found several Australian and international studies that detected up to 0.162 mg/L of lead in drinking water due to leaching from lead-containing plumbing materials including taps and lead service lines, suggesting that leaching of lead from lead-containing plumbing materials can be substantial (SLR 2023)… Based on health considerations, the concentration of lead in drinking water should not exceed 0.005 mg/L.”