Council closes Cooby Dam to the Public

Toowoomba Regional Council has closed Cooby Dam to the public until further notice as a precautionary move due to elevated numbers of E.Coli bacteria.

Toowoomba Regional Council Water and Waste portfolio leader Cr Bill Cahill said Council officers were satisfied that the increased bacterial numbers were due to an environmental phenomenon rather than contamination of the dam water.

“Council will close entry gates to Loveday Cove and the Cooby Dam wall picnic areas and signage will be put in place indicating the areas are closed to the public until further notice.

“All reticulated water within the Cooby Dam Wall picnic areas, including taps and toilets, are untreated and therefore poses a risk to human safety during periods of high bacteria levels.

“Council will undertake daily monitoring of these levels and will re-open both locations as soon as measured levels are below the recognised safety standards

“The bacteria represent no risk to drinking water supplies as they are removed by the water treatment and disinfection process.

“Additional testing will be carried out on a regular basis to monitor the numbers of E.Coli bacteria.

“Council will undertake daily monitoring of these levels and will re-open both locations as soon as measured levels are below the recognised safety standards,” Cr Cahill said.

“Council monitors the three dams on a weekly basis for algae and numerous microbiological parameters including E.coli. We also test chemical parameters such as iron, manganese, alkalinity, hardness, ammonia, nitrate, colour, turbidity and phosphate.

“The treatment process is also closely monitored (daily). When the water leaves the treatment plant we conduct tests in the distribution system in accordance with our Drinking Water Quality Management Plans.

“These plans line up with the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008.

“Even if we are not using a particular dam, but a test shows that we are out of specification in relation to primary contact (swimming) or secondary contact (boating) we inform Council’s Parks and Recreation Services branch about closing a facility to the public.”

Cressbrook Dam is currently unaffected by this issue and therefore remains open for recreational based activities and camping.

To view activities open or closed at the dams, please visit www.tr.qld.gov.au/damstatus