GIARDIA, WATER SUPPLY - AUSTRALIA (SYDNEY) (02) *********************************************** Source: News media, 31 Jul 98 Sydney Water managing director Chris Pollett has advised all Sydneysiders to boil their tap water before drinking it following the discovery of the parasites _Giardia_ and _Cryptosporidium_ in the city's main water systems. The source of the contamination was located between the upper canals of the Nepean Dams and the Prospect Water Filtration Plant. They were identified in water outlets running between both supply plants. Mr. Pollett has said that continuing tests will take place until an all-clear can be given. The Prospect Plant and its downstream pipes are now being treated to clear the _Giardia_ and _Cryptosporidium_ organisms. An intensive audit of the plant and its treatment and monitoring systems is now underway. The results will be released publicly and sent to the independent inquiry announced by the Premier Bob Carr. State Urban Affairs and Planning Minister Craig Knowles was quoted as telling ABC Radio today that "I'm told ... that the search of the 23km of that open canal has identified a number of dead animals in there, a number of dogs. Now how they've got in there, goodness only knows, but they've either fallen in or been thrown in by uncaring owners ... The inquiry we announced yesterday needs to look very thoroughly at all these issues, so I don't really want to pre-empt the outcome of that, but suffice to say, as the Premier said yesterday that we are going through this very, very carefully and very seriously. This is a major health issue for Sydney and one that can't be downplayed and won't be downplayed ... and where there are demonstrations of either negligence or incompetence, we will pursue those very vigorously indeed." The New South Wales Health Minister Andrew Refshaugewhas told Parliament that routine water testing for the parasite _Cryptosporidium_ was inappropriate, adding, "The 1996 Australian Drinking Water Guidelines state that 'routine monitoring for _Cryptosporidium_ is not appropriate'." GIARDIA, WATER SUPPLY - AUSTRALIA (SYDNEY) (03) *********************************************** Date: Sat, 1 Aug 1998 13:09:37 -0500 Source: News media [Ex media sources, Aug 1 -- I have deleted all the 'Outraged' citizens, posturing politicians, and circling lawyers as they are irrelevant to much of what is going on. You will have got a flavor of all that from the previous postings. - Mod.] Many of Sydney's 3.7 million residents must continue boiling their drinking water for another week before dangerous parasites are flushed out of the water system, health officials said Saturday. Fleets of trucks "rushed" through the streets delivering bottled water to businesses, schools, hospitals and homes. Bottled water vanished from store shelves as customers bought a half-dozen or more containers each. Bottled water has become a hot commodity, but despite the high demand, there have been no reports of price gouging by stores. Some neighborhoods may be able to resume using tap water as soon as Sunday after water samples from the plant that spread the parasites tests clean, state Urban Affairs Minister Craig Knowles said. However, it will take eight days for the clean water to flush out the entire city system, Chief Health Department officer Andrew Wilson said. Fire hydrants and water mains have been opened throughout the city to speed the process of purging the water system. No illnesses have been reported. But the parasites have an incubation period of about a week, so it may take several more days for any serious health problems to develop. The cause of the contamination remains unclear. Officials have not found evidence that the carcasses of dogs and foxes found in or near an open canal leading to a filtration plant were the source. Sydney Water Managing Director Chris Pollett has said the contamination may have come from contaminated run-off.[From?] [Written by: PETER JAMES SPIELMANN] =========================================================================== /`\ /`\ RABBIT INFORMATION SERVICE: _ _ (/\ \-/ /\) P.O.Box 30, Riverton, Western Australia 6148 (.\_/.) )6 6( http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm \6 6/ >{= Y =}< VEGETARIAN PAGE =\ /= /'-^-'\ http://www.geocities/RainForest/4620 /O\ / (_) (_) / \ ( | . | U U ) | |} Pity the human race its illusion of permanence (| |)/ \_/^\_/ w'-'w ===========================================================================
