Dirty water in Emerald
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Posted on February 4, 2020
Central Highlands Regional Council is aware of three cases of discoloured water in Emerald.
The affected locations are White Street, Bridgeman Street and Waldby Court.
Water utilities staff are on the ground flushing the water lines in affected areas. Investigation of what caused the discolouration continues. As the water has undergone the complete disinfection process from the water plant, water quality should not be affected. As a precaution, council is undertaking on the ground testing. Residents may choose to drink bottled water until the water is clear again.
Water quality is continuously monitored both automatically and manually across the region and it is normal that, from time to time, the water’s colour or appearance can change. Sometimes it can take on a yellow, rust or brown tint to almost black, other times it can appear milky white or blue.
If people notice discoloured water council recommends the following process to clear water lines.
Run the front garden tap into a bucket for up to 30 seconds, taking note of the colour of the water. If it is not clear, repeat the process half hourly until clear. Once the water in the front tap is clear, run the back garden tap into a bucket until the water is clear. This flushes the water lines. To conserve water, use the collected water on your garden.If the water in the front tap does not improve after several repeats, or discoloured water occurs frequently, please contact council on 1300 242 686.