Murray River to flush out ‘muddy’ water
Jan 28 2023: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/news/murray-river-to-flush-out-muddy-water/
A raw and filtered water main flushing program will begin in Moama and Mathoura next week.
The flushing process is designed to wash out any accumulated dissolved mineral sediments that may be sitting in the water mains.
Partly resulting from the floods, it is intended to help eliminate the muddy taste and odour being reported by some Murray River households due to ongoing impacts from the flood event.
While flushing is being undertaken, customers may notice discoloured water and reduced water pressure in their homes, businesses and gardens.
Murray River Council says “this is normal”.
“The discolouration will clear up and the pressure will come back as we move into different areas,” council said.
“The discoloured water does not pose a health risk.
“Our teams are encouraging water customers to check for discolouration, particularly prior to using washing machines.
“If you do experience discoloured water, please run the cold water tap for 5 to 10 minutes until it clears.
“If the discolouration continues past this timeframe, contact council on 1300 087 004 and lodge a service request.”
Daily updates will be provided on council’s Facebook page advising the areas where flushing will occur the following day.
Signs will also be displayed at the entrance to each area while flushing is occurring.
It is expected that the program will be completed by the end of February 2023.
Council assured the community that the drinking water is tested daily and is within the requirements of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
“Should further action be required to improve water quality (following the flushing program), council will advise residents prior to undertaking these works,” council said.
“We ask residents who are experiencing issues to firstly run their tap for a minimum of five mins in an attempt to resolve the issue.
“Should the issue persist, please contact council and provide your location and contact details.”
Moama residents frustrated at dirty water as flooding continues to affect filtered water network
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-05/moama-residents-frustrated-at-brown-clothes-dirty-water-as-flood/101732842
Residents in Moama in southern New South Wales are complaining about brown water coming out of their household taps as the local government authority says it’s an issue that is likely to go on for weeks.
Moama resident Beck Angel took to social media to show the discolouration of the water coming out of her taps.
“Here’s our kitchen tap water — bath and shower way worse!” she said.
“We haven’t been drinking it either, but when the water looks like this in the bathroom, [we] don’t really want to wash in it either.”
The Murray River Council said floodwater from the river systems was affecting the council’s filtered water networks and discolouring the usually clear tap water.
“While the filtered water is discoloured, it is not harmful and the filtered water quality is within the requirements of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines,” a council spokesperson said.
It said the discolouration may cause toilet U-bends to look a little murky, bath water may look dirty, and that white sheets and clothes may not stay white when washed.
“This is likely to be an ongoing issue for weeks to come,” the spokesperson said.
No boil water alert active for the area
Last month, the Echuca-Moama region was inundated by floodwater, and residents continue the recovery and clean-up process.
The Murray Darling Basin Authority data shows the Murray River at Echuca is at 93.78 metres above sea level after peaking at a height of 94.977m on October 27.
Resident Rupert Aldous posted that his water was fine but that he still wouldn’t drink it.
“I’m in Lawson Drive and if you can’t see it, I just half-filled my bathroom basin with water,” he said.
Resident Belinda Lee also said her tap water was fine.
“Even white washing is fine. l don’t drink it before it’s boiled, but it’s not discoloured,” she posted.
But another resident, Denise Slater, took to social media on Sunday to show her load of white clothes stained brown after they had been through a laundry cycle that morning.
Murray River Council last put out a Boil Water Alert for Moama on October 22 due to flood conditions when drinking water in Moama’s filtered water network became unsafe.
Moama’s filtered water comes from the Murray River, and Moulamein from the Edwards River which is filtered at a water filtration plant.