Uralla Shire Council reminds the community that a 'Do not drink' alert is still in place for the Uralla Town Water Supply.
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"The rain that fell over the last week provided some relief to the community, and water usage has decreased, which is fantastic to see," Acting General Manager David Aber said.
"As the 'Do not drink' alert has been in place for more than a month, we would like to remind the community of the aspects of this alert."
The Uralla town water supply is safe to use for domestic purposes such as hand washing, showering, bathing, washing the dishes, and washing clothes. It is also safe to give to pets and stock.
Bottled water should be used for drinking, food preparation, making ice, cleaning teeth, and gargling. Boiling the water will not remove the arsenic.
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The 'Do not drink' alert does not affect the safety of swimming at Uralla Pool.
"Uralla Pool is safe to swim in and enjoy. We would like to assure the community that the town water is safe to bathe and swim in," Mr Aber said. "The pool is free for all Uralla Shire residents over the long weekend making it a great opportunity to have a swim. The pool is safe for bathing if swallowing of water is limited."
Incidental ingestion of very small quantities of water at the arsenic levels in Uralla Town Water supply does not pose a health risk. The principal health concern relates to the ongoing exposure to arsenic over a period of years.
If you know of or have any concerns for friends, family or neighbours who may not be able to access the bottled water available, contact Council on 6778 6300 so their volunteers, organisations and staff can help.
Over the past week, council has designed modifications of the treatment plant to install a Granular Activated Carbon filter. This work is necessary before a new filter can be bought and installed.
For the latest information and updates, visit Council's website and Facebook page. Locals and visitors are encouraged to phone or email Council if they have any further questions or concerns.