❓ WA Government addresses concerns about water quality in Cue, Meekatharra, Mount Magnet, and Sandstone, outlining plans and timelines for infrastructure upgrades to reduce nitrate levels and improve aesthetics, with $18.7 million committed.
AnsweredQoN 5841Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the unacceptable water quality in the towns
of Cue, Meekatharra, Mount Magnet and Sandstone, and I ask: (a) Is
the state government in the process of providing infrastructure to ensure the availability of safe
reliable and good quality drinking water in these communities; (b) If
no, why not; and (c) If
yes, can the Minister please supply time frames, diagrams, locations and
current implementation status for the provision of reliable, safe and good quality
drinking water to these communities?
of Cue, Meekatharra, Mount Magnet and Sandstone, and I ask: (a) Is
the state government in the process of providing infrastructure to ensure the availability of safe
reliable and good quality drinking water in these communities; (b) If
no, why not; and (c) If
yes, can the Minister please supply time frames, diagrams, locations and
current implementation status for the provision of reliable, safe and good quality
drinking water to these communities?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 February 2020
Responded by
Minister for Water
Response time
2 days
The McGowan Government is committed to ensuring that all public drinking water supplies meet health standards and are safe to drink.
(a) The Water Corporation has exemptions from the Department of Health for nitrate concentrations for supplies to these four towns. The nitrate exemptions were negotiated with the Department of Health after the release of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 1996, and implemented in the MOU with the Department of Health in 2000 under the Court Liberal-National Government.
Water Corporation meets all other health parameters of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and the water is safe to drink (except for infants less than three months old). The Corporation supplies bottled water (through the community health nurse) free of charge for infants under three months old.
The Water Corporation has committed to installing additional treatment at these four localities to ensure improved aesthetics and nitrate levels are below the infant health guideline value.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) [See tabled paper no.]
The State Government has committed $18.7 million to deliver the additional treatment, of which $5.8 million has been spent to date. Mount Magnet is currently under construction and is scheduled to be operational by mid-2020, Cue by late 2020, Sandstone by early 2021 and Meekatharra by mid-2021.
(a) The Water Corporation has exemptions from the Department of Health for nitrate concentrations for supplies to these four towns. The nitrate exemptions were negotiated with the Department of Health after the release of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 1996, and implemented in the MOU with the Department of Health in 2000 under the Court Liberal-National Government.
Water Corporation meets all other health parameters of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and the water is safe to drink (except for infants less than three months old). The Corporation supplies bottled water (through the community health nurse) free of charge for infants under three months old.
The Water Corporation has committed to installing additional treatment at these four localities to ensure improved aesthetics and nitrate levels are below the infant health guideline value.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) [See tabled paper no.]
The State Government has committed $18.7 million to deliver the additional treatment, of which $5.8 million has been spent to date. Mount Magnet is currently under construction and is scheduled to be operational by mid-2020, Cue by late 2020, Sandstone by early 2021 and Meekatharra by mid-2021.
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