E.Coli outbreak traced to frogs | Emerald Environment | Environmental News in Emerald

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FROGS living in the Bluff water reservoir have been blamed for an E.Coli outbreak in the town's drinking supply in January.

A report by the Commercial Services division of the Central Highlands Regional Council said the amphibians non-desirable rural residential address, combined with low chlorine levels, resulted in the deadly bacteria being detected.

Council staff were this week investigating the contamination of water after it left the local supply at Comet.

The Environmental Protection Authority was called in when raw sewerage discharge from the Quarry Street pump station was discovered in Springsure's water supply.

E.Coli was also found in Springsure in late January, with residents complaining about a chlorine smell and discoloured water and laundry.

Testing showed a low chlorine level at the reservoir and one sample failed drinking water guidelines.

A water quality incident at Blackwater resulted in an E.Coli alert being issued to the Blackwater and Bluff communities in early January.

Commercial Services staffers investigated the incident and found a mechanical failure of a coagulant dosing pump resulted in a volume of raw water entering the supply.

Council's water sampling and monitoring program has been altered to meet legislative requirements introduced in January.

The Environmental Health report to council noted water service providers are now required to take a certain number of samples per week or month, according to population size, to test for E.Coli bacteria.

The towns of Blackwater, Emerald, Springsure and Tieri must now be sampled at least once a week.

Monthly sampling remains ongoing for general chemical and pesticide testing.

Wide Bay Water representatives have recently conducted site visits to audit water and sewerage infrastructure at Blackwater, Bluff, Dingo, Duaringa, Springsure and Rolleston.

Bluff reservoir tenders have closed and are currently being assessed, with prices ranging from $459,000 to $1.2 million for the construction of a 0.5 megalitre to one ML reservoir.

Wide Bay Water has also provided council with a draft report on the East Nogoa Water Treatment Plant - a big ticket item for council's 2009/10 budget considerations.

Capella has been on water restrictions since December 15, when the volume in storage in the town dams fell below 750 megalitres.