❓ Hon. Darren West inquires about bottled water distribution in Cue due to high nitrate levels, specifically for infants. The Minister confirms the issue and provides details on distribution and affected communities.
AnsweredQoN 396Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
BOTTLED WATER DISTRIBUTION — CUE
396. Hon DARREN WEST to the minister
representing the Minister for Health:
I
refer to the distribution of bottled water in Cue to new mothers and infants
under four months old.
(1) Why are these new mothers and
infants unable to drink water from the town supply?
(2) How often is the water
distributed and how much is provided to each family?
(3) Do any other
communities require bottled water for new mothers and infants; and, if yes,
which communities and for what reasons?
(4) Is there any charge to the
families for this water; and, if yes, how much?
396. Hon DARREN WEST to the minister
representing the Minister for Health:
I
refer to the distribution of bottled water in Cue to new mothers and infants
under four months old.
(1) Why are these new mothers and
infants unable to drink water from the town supply?
(2) How often is the water
distributed and how much is provided to each family?
(3) Do any other
communities require bottled water for new mothers and infants; and, if yes,
which communities and for what reasons?
(4) Is there any charge to the
families for this water; and, if yes, how much?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question.
(1) The naturally
occurring nitrate level found in the water supplied to the community of Cue is
above 50 mg per litre, which is the maximum safe level for infants less than
three months of age, but below 100 mg per litre, which is the maximum safe
level for all ages above three months of age. The bottled water is provided
only for infants below three months of age.
(2) Bottled water
is provided upon demand to mothers who need to bottle feed infants under three
months of age.
(3) Yes; bottled
water is provided to infants for bottle feeding in other communities in which
the level of nitrate in the drinking water exceeds 50 mg per litre. No drinking
water supplies in these communities exceed the 100 mg per litre nitrate
concentration health limit for adults. I seek leave to table a list of
communities in response to this question.
Leave granted.
[See paper 4064.]
(4) No.
of the question.
(1) The naturally
occurring nitrate level found in the water supplied to the community of Cue is
above 50 mg per litre, which is the maximum safe level for infants less than
three months of age, but below 100 mg per litre, which is the maximum safe
level for all ages above three months of age. The bottled water is provided
only for infants below three months of age.
(2) Bottled water
is provided upon demand to mothers who need to bottle feed infants under three
months of age.
(3) Yes; bottled
water is provided to infants for bottle feeding in other communities in which
the level of nitrate in the drinking water exceeds 50 mg per litre. No drinking
water supplies in these communities exceed the 100 mg per litre nitrate
concentration health limit for adults. I seek leave to table a list of
communities in response to this question.
Leave granted.
[See paper 4064.]
(4) No.
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