Tainted water cut off

PEOPLE are being urged not to panic after a chemical contaminant was found in a bore connected to the Lower Herbert water supply.

Per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances were found on Monday in a bore that supplies water to the Macknade treatment plant which distributes to the Lower Herbert region.

Lucinda, Macknade, Halifax, Cordelia, Taylors Beach and Bemerside all receive water from the Macknade and Ingham treatment plants.

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said the chemical was detected in small amounts in the Lucinda water supply.

However, he said there was no need to panic.

“I have every faith in the world the Hinchinbrook council is doing all they can to get this under control,” Mr Dametto said.

Canegrowers Herbert River chairman Michael Pisano, who owns a cane farm on the way to Forrest Beach, said he believed some people would be concerned about the discovery.

“If they’ve found it in the water supply, people might be concerned,” he said.

However, Hinchinbrook shire councillor Andrew Lancini said people should not panic and further tests would provide further clarity.

The council said the contaminated bore was isolated as soon as the tests results were received.

It will remain switched off until further notice.

Mayor Ramon Jayo assured residents the water was still safe to drink.

“There is no disruption to the town water supply as a result of the affected bore remaining switched off and council will continue to update residents as more information comes to hand,” he said.

Cr Jayo said the council undertook PFAS testing across the Hinchinbrook water supply network as part of a statewide water quality monitoring program.

“The Ingham, Forrest Beach and Halifax Reservoirs returned clear readings compliant with the national water standards and found no detection of PFAS,” he said.

“However, the Lucinda Water Reservoir returned a small amount above the detection limits specified by Queensland Health.

“Further testing was conducted to identify the source of the potential contamination and these results were received late ( Monday) afternoon.”