Recent rainfall events in the drinking water catchment area have caused problems with water treatment making drinking water in the Coutts Crossing water supply system unsafe from today 30 January 2023.
Coutts Crossing is a small village on the Armidale to Grafton Road. Council and NSW Health have assessed the situation and a boil water alert is being implemented until further notice for over 1300 people.
Water used for drinking or food preparation should be brought to a rolling boil to make it safe. Kettles with automatic shut-off switches can do this. Water should then be allowed to cool and stored in a clean container with a lid and refrigerated.
Everyone, particularly people caring for young children, should be careful to avoid scalding, when you are heating and then cooling the water.
Bottled water or cool boiled water should be used for drinking, washing uncooked food (e.g. salad vegetables, and fruit), making ice, cleaning teeth, gargling, and pet’s drinking water.
Dishes should be washed in hot soapy water or in a dishwasher.
Children should take bottled water or cool boiled water to school.
If you cannot boil the water, unscented household bleach (containing 4% – 5% available chlorine) may be used. Add two drops of bleach to one litre of water (or four drops if the water is cloudy), mix well, and allow to stand for 30 minutes before use.
Clarence Valley Council will continue to manage and monitor the situation until the quality of drinking water in the main water supply system returns to normal.
This advice should be followed until further notice.
The NSW Health website also includes special considerations for:
- Schools and childcare centres https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/water/Pages/schools.aspx
- Commercial establishments serving food or drinks https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/water/Pages/foodfacts.aspx
- Using water header tanks https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/water/Pages/watertanks.aspx
- Swimming pools and spas https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/water/Pages/pools.asp