Boil water notice

A boil water notice is issued:  

• If tests show that harmful microorganisms (particularly E. coli) could be present in the water 
• There is a treatment plant failure 
• A significant loss of pressure occurs in the water network 
• Multiple reports of illness are received 
• During situations that warrant special action to protect consumers' health or 
• Council and public health authorities determine there is a potential risk to drinking water safety

A boil water notice does not mean that the tap water you drink will make people seriously ill, but it does mean that the bacterial level is higher than allowed by law or that the treatment process is compromised.

Boiling the water kills micro-organisms that can cause disease. Bring tap water to a full rolling boil, let it boil for one minute and then let it cool before using. 

Boil all water used for: 

• drinking 
• washing and preparing food 
• preparing baby formula 
• cleaning teeth
• making ice

Boil water even if you use a private water treatment device. While some treatment systems are designed to remove or inactivate microorganisms, their effectiveness depends on the type of system, its condition, and whether it is being properly operated and maintained.

Unless you are certain that your treatment system is specifically designed and certified to protect against microbiological contamination and is functioning correctly, you should continue to boil water during the Boil Water Notice period. Ensure all treatment devices are maintained and serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.. 

If you cannot boil your tap water: 

• use bottled water 
• treat tap water by adding 1 teaspoon of household bleach per 10 litres of water and leave for 30 minutes. 
• water purification tablets may also be used to disinfect tap water by following the manufacturer's instructions 

You can treat your water in two ways before drinking it to make your water safe to consume:  

• Bring the water that you drink to a boil in your kettle or keep it at a rolling boil in a saucepan for 1 minute   

• Hand chlorinate your storage tank with household bleach. 

You can also choose to drink bottled water, although this is the most expensive option.

Most household water filters, including common jug filters, carbon filters, and basic cartridge filters, are designed to improve the taste, odour, or appearance of water and may not provide reliable protection against bacteria such as E. coli. If you have one of these systems, you should continue to boil your water during a Boil Water Notice. 

Some whole-house treatment systems that include technologies such as ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, ultrafiltration, or other certified microbiological treatment processes may be capable of removing or inactivating harmful microorganisms. However, their effectiveness depends on the system being correctly designed, properly maintained, and operating as intended. 

Unless you are confident that your treatment system is specifically designed to provide microbiological protection and is functioning correctly, you should continue to boil your water for consumable purposes.  

Always maintain and service your water treatment system in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. 

• Notifications will appear as a water alert on Council's website
• Alerts are posted to Council's Facebook page 
• Regular broadcasts will be made on local radio station CoastFM

Council will advise the community when the boil water notice can be lifted through the same channels.