The Enngonia Village Water Supply is a NON-POTABLE Supply and not approved for human consumption.

Whilst it is a NON-POTABLE supply regular monitoring for E. coli bacteria in the Enngonia

Water Supply System is conducted by Bourke Shire Council staff. The bacteria itself is generally not harmful but the presence of these bacteria indicates that the water may be contaminated with organisms that may cause disease.

Recent monitoring has shown E. coli bacteria to be present in the Enngonia water supply system. As a precaution you are advised that water needed for human consumption should

be brought to a rolling boil. Water should then be allowed to cool and stored in a clean container with a lid and refrigerated.

Cooled boiled or bottled water should be used for:

Drinking, cooking, washing raw foods (such as seafood or salads), making ice, pet’s

drinking water, and cleaning teeth.

Dishes should be washed in hot soapy water or in a dishwasher.

Children should take bottled or cooled boiled water to school.

Bourke Shire Council is working to alleviate the problem and the water will again be tested

following those works. These Precautions should be undertaken until further notice.

 

“Coliforms are Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacteria that are capable of aerobic and facultative anaerobic growth in the presence of bile salts or other surface active agents with similar growth-inhibiting properties. They are found in large numbers in the faeces of humans and other warm-blooded animals, but many species also occur in the environment.

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