REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY

The Hon. J.S. LEE (16:34): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question about the lead content in water supply to regional towns.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Reported in the ABC News on 9 February 2012, the member for Stuart in another place raised concerns on behalf of his constituents that lead levels are said to be too high in drinking water for four outback town on the Barrier Highway in South Australia. Results from tap water testing by SA Water between July 2010 and June last year show unsafe lead levels in four towns in the state's north, including Mannahill, Olary, Oodlawirra and Yunta.

Australian drinking water guidelines dictate that water should contain less than 0.01 micrograms of lead per litre. However, a reading of 0.104 micrograms per litre, which is more than 10 times the recommended safe level, was found in one of the three samples taken at Mannahill. The water has been supplied as safe to drink if boiled, although boiling does not remove the lead. My questions are:

1. Can the minister explain whether the outback residents were notified about the unacceptable levels of lead in their drinking water?

2. What measures has the Minister for Regional Development and for Tourism put in place to inform the locals, visitors and tourists about the unacceptable levels of lead in the drinking water and that the water should not be drunk?

3. Has the government also taken any responsible steps to explain to the outback communities about the risk and that boiling water will not reduce the lead content?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (16:35): I thank the honourable member for her question; in fact, the Minister for Water is responsible for potable water in not only Adelaide but also country towns, so it's really a matter for him, but I have some advice from SA Water. Indeed, SA Water does provide non-drinking water to a number of townships. There are currently 79 properties supplied, I have been advised. These supplies were declared non-potable in 1998, due to poor microbial quality, and customers were advised that it could be used for drinking and food preparation only after being boiled.

SA Water tests these townships on a monthly basis for a range of heavy metals, including lead, so I am advised, and 317 routine samples were analysed for lead between February 2010 and February 2012, achieving an Australian Drinking Water Guideline health compliance of 95 per cent across all four towns.

SA Water follows the recommended Australian Drinking Water Guideline response to detection of chemicals at concentrations above the relevant health-related guideline value by reporting to the Department of Health. As described in the ADWG, single results above a guideline value are unlikely to present an immediate health risk and a public advice would not normally be required unless the concentrations found were so high that an immediate health impact was assessed. I am advised that that situation did not arise.

These metal detections have been intermittent in nature, so I have been advised, and every exceedence has been discussed individually with the Department of Health. In all instances, corrective action was taken, including flushing and re-sampling, until the result was below the ADWG.

Investigations and remediation activities, I am advised, are being undertaken to determine and resolve the source of contamination of the distribution system. The Department of Health is fully briefed on the situation and considers that the appropriate action has been taken to mitigate the risk to public health.