Toowoomba faces vomiting, diarrhoea bug
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A vomiting and diarrhoea bug is spreading in Toowoomba and Queensland Health is urging residents to ensure they have good hygiene.
There have been almost 20 cases of cryptosporidiosis this month while there were only two last year.
The director of Darling Downs Health, Dr Neil Parker, says the illness can be spread through swimming pools, changing nappies and eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water.
“The last couple of years we’ve had very little at this time of year or any time of year, but back in 2002 we saw a similar rise,” he said.
“Most of the gastro-intestinal illnesses show an increase during summer and it’s simply that during the warmer months the bugs multiply more quickly.”
Toowoomba City (Queensland) – Trihalomethanes
2016/17: Toowoomba City – Transmission (Queensland) – Trihalomethanes 259μg/L (highest detection)
(Toowoomba Regional Council DWQMP Annual Report 2016-17 Appendix B)
Trihalomethanes Australian Guideline Level 250μg/L (0.25mg/L)
Why and how are THMs formed?
“When chlorine is added to water with organic material, such as algae, river weeds, and decaying leaves, THMs are formed. Residual chlorine molecules react with this harmless organic material to form a group of chlorinated chemical compounds, THMs. They are tasteless and odourless, but harmful and potentially toxic. The quantity of by-products formed is determined by several factors, such as the amount and type of organic material present in water, temperature, pH, chlorine dosage, contact time available for chlorine, and bromide concentration in the water. The organic matter in water mainly consists of a) humic substance, which is the organic portion of soil that remains after prolonged microbial decomposition formed by the decay of leaves, wood, and other vegetable matter; and b) fulvic acid, which is a water soluble substance of low molecular weight that is derived from humus”. US EPA
Toowoomba City (Queensland) – Manganese
2016/17: Toowoomba City – Source Water (Queensland) – Manganese 5.015mg/L
2016/17: Toowoomba City – Water Treatment Plant (Queensland) – Manganese 0.734mg/L
(Toowoomba Regional Council DWQMP Annual Report 2016-17 Appendix B)
Manganese: ADWG Guidelines 0.5mg/L. ADWG Aesthetic Guideline 0.1mg/L
Manganese is found in the natural environment. Manganese in drinking water above 0.1mg/L can give water an unpleasant taste and stain plumbing fixtures and laundry.