Yass Valley water woes continuing as system flushing starts

Yass Valley residents are still advised to boil their water before drinking or using it for other things. Photo: Sally Hopman.

Yass Valley Council is flushing its water system, but the region’s water woes are not over yet.

A Boil Water Alert went into force on 14 February following recent heavy rain and a failure to subsequently treat the water so it met safety standards.

On 16 February, the council warned the alert was expected to remain in place for up to several weeks, and it remains current.

A council spokesperson said the next step would be to flush the water system from Monday (26 February).

“During flushing, residents may experience higher chlorine levels and discolouration,” the spokesperson said.

“If discolouration is experienced, run the first tap after the water meter to clear discolouration. Remaining areas of Yass, and Murrumbateman, Bowning and Binalong areas will be flushed for the rest of the week.”

The spokesperson said the council would advise which areas would be flushed each day.

The process will start on Monday in the areas supplied by the Morton and O’Connell reservoirs in Yass.

Despite the flushing process, the Boil Water Alert remains in force.

Water being used for drinking or food preparation should be brought to a rolling boil.

Bottled water or cool boiled water should be used for drinking, washing uncooked food (such as salad vegetables and fruit), making ice, cleaning teeth, gargling and pets’ drinking water.

At the end of the flushing process, water samples from representative locations will be sent to a NSW Health laboratory for analysis.

Once these results are received, representatives from NSW Health and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) will meet to discuss the potential lifting of the Boil Water Alert.

Yass Valley Council will monitor the chlorine levels to ensure the reticulated water has been flushed out to the requirements of NSW Health.

Information on what different groups and businesses – such as schools, childcare centres, spas and restaurants – should do during a boil alert is available on NSW Health’s website.