Boil Water Alert

Boil Water Alert

15 March, 2022

Lithgow City Council and Farmers Creek Supply System

Due to recent conditions, including excessive rainfall and highly turbid water in the Farmer’s Creek catchment, Council is not yet able to guarantee the safety of the water in the Lithgow township. As such a Boil Water alert remains in place for the Lithgow area.

The issues experienced last week that caused the unsafe water being produced have lessened. This has been a collaborative effort between the Council, WaterNSW, NSW Health and the Department of Planning and Environment to improve water treatment and supply.  

Both the Council and WaterNSW are again producing water within the drinking water guidelines.  But the Boil Water Alert remains for the Lithgow township until such time as the previously produced, out of limits water, has been removed from the system.

Customers in Lithgow are advised to boil water prior to use for drinking or food preparation until such time as they are notified that this measure is no longer required.

NSW Health have provided the following advice:-

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 be stored in a clean container with a lid and be refrigerated.  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.   

This advice should be followed until further notice. 

The NSW Health website also includes special considerations for:

While there is no current timeframe for removal of the alert, Lithgow City Council is working to fix the problem and will provide information to the community as the issue progresses.