Braidwood residents have been advised by Palerang Council that they can return to regular use of the town's reticulated water supply, following three weeks of boiling water to eliminate any E. Coli contamination found in the supply when the Council's chlorination equipment failed.
The Department of Health lifted the Boil Water Notice with the water supply meeting the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
Palerang Shire has been collecting and dispatching successive water samples for microbiological analysis, which have now returned successive clear and positive results.
Palerang Council's revocation notice also said that Council had been "actively modifying the water chlorination plant to achieve consistent and adequate residual chlorine levels." Chlorine levels continue to be tested daily.
Department of Health Environmental Health Officer, Warren Matthews informed Council that "Council should continue to closely monitor the chlorine residual and to address the issue of elevated pH levels. A regular mains cleaning program and periodic super chlorination of Braidwood's water reticulation system should also be considered."
However, the Braidwood water supply will continue to be vulnerable until the planned filtration plant and clean water storage are in place which is likely to be some years and cost upwards of $4 million. Council has previously advised that if blue-green algae were to get into the reservoir then they would have to turn the town water off.
Palerang staff met with new member for Eden Monaro Mike Kelly last week. Mr Kelly is still in negotiations to try and get the extra $700,000 for Braidwood's water supply as promised by Gary Nairn before the election, as well and $1million promised for the Bungendore water supply.
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