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Dirty Water FAQ'sLast modified: November 4, 2009 - 4:04 PM
1. Why do we occasionally get dirty water?A combination of circumstances can create dirty water, but the most common is when sediment is dislodged from our water supply mains. Sediments accumulate in pipelines due to unavoidable changes in the chemistry of the water as it passes through the reticulation network. Trace elements, such as iron and manganese, come out of solution and accumulate in the distribution pipes over long periods of time until they are dislodged by a sudden increase in the rate of flow. These trace elements occur naturally in all water sources because most substances are soluble in water. The most recent problem we had affecting Bowral residents in particular, arose when we were forced to kick in a second pump to move more water from Wingecarribee Dam into town to satisfy the increased demand. The increased pumping rate dislodged some sediment in the water supply mains, causing discolouration in the water being delivered at the tap. We normally try to keep the mains flushed regularly to avoid this happening, but in this case mains haven't been flushed so regularly because of the prolonged dry period. 2. Is the water safe to drink?Discolouration is generally an aesthetic issue, with a slight taste making the water unpleasant to drink. The best advice is that if you personally have any concerns don't drink the water until it clears. Although contamination of the water supply with substances that could have an adverse impact on health is very unlikely, Council has emergency procedures to deal with such potential events. These are based on regular monitoring of the supplies and could involve shutting down Council's water treatment plants to prevent contaminated water being distributed, draining of service reservoirs to remove contaminated water from the system and alerting the public by a variety of means. 3. Why does Council flush the mains and waste water?This is a common and very understandable question, particularly in a dry time. It is not a pleasant sight to watch hundreds of litres of water being flushed down the drain. Unfortunately there is no other way to clear dirty water from mains. Wherever possible we try to do the main scouring in places where the water can be returned to the catchment via our drainage systems. 4. What do I do if the washing gets dirty?If you get caught with a load of dirty washing, the best idea is to keep the washing wet. Don't hang it up. If you have some of the commercial products, like nappy stain removers, in the house that should do the trick with another wash, after the dirty water is removed from the system. If that fails Council will provide you with a bottle of a detergent with a high concentration of citric acid, which is also very effective. 5. How do I get rid of the dirty water from house pipes?Council's scouring or flushing procedures will remove dirty water from the mains, but it will not remove the problem from the water in your house pipes. After the mains have been cleared, house pipes can be easily cleared by turning on a couple of cold water taps, slowly at first and preferably at the end of the line, to expel built up air pressure. An outside garden tap at the back of the house is best and you won't waste the water if you run it on the garden. Milky coloured water is a sign of air trapped in the supply system and should clear with flushing. 6. What about my hot water system?Hot water systems over time will acquire some sediment in them regardless of the quality of the water. It is suggested that if you do have dirty water, do not use your hot water unless it is absolutely necessary. If dirty water does infiltrate your hot water system it will settle overnight. As hot water is drawn from the top of the tank for pressure systems, and from the lower 80% for gravity systems, it should not pose a problem if allowed to settle overnight. 7. What if there is an interruption to water supply?Sometimes Council staff need to turn off the water supply to carry out essential work on the water mains. Care should be taken to ensure that water heaters and washing machines are not used and taps are left closed while the water supply is shut off. You may elect to turn off the household water at the meter and wait until the remedial work has finished before returning your service to normal. After restoration of the water supply, open taps slowly at first to allow any trapped air to escape. This is particularly important prior to operation of the hot water systems, washing machines and other appliances. Again it is best to use an outside tap at the back of the house and use the water on your garden. If discoloured water appears, flush the pipe by running a full flow until the water clears.
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