Water Danger Warning At Culverden Correct

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30287, 13 November 1963, Page 19

Water Danger Warning At Culverden Correct

A recent public notice in the Culverden weekly newspaper had advised the public that the water from Culverden wells was highly contaminated and that all drinking water should be boiled, the county health inspector, Mr R. B. Ayrey, told the Amuri County Council.

He said the notice had caused some concern in the district and while its origin was unknown and no authority for its insertion had been given by the council or the Department of Health, the position as stated in the notice was generally true.

Mr Ayrey said the risk of contamination of underground water supplies by septic tanks in the built-up area of Culverden township lias been evident for some time now and was brought

home during the infective hepatitis outbreak of 1962 when many of the wells were sampled. It was doubted whether there were many residents who remained unaware of the situation after that occasion. The position has not altered since then and although the danger of further cases of infective hepatitis may have diminished there are many other similar infections such as typhoid and paratyphoid fever, bacillary dysentery, various types of stomach influenza and summer sickness which could reach epidemic proportions through an unsatisfactory water supply. Residents in the built-up

area of the township were advised to continue boiling all drinking water—unless they were drawing water from deep wells or rain water—until the position can be relieved by the proposed new public water supply. The County Clerk (Mr H. M. Searle) reported that the loan proposal for the new water supply for Culverden was in the hands of the Local Authorities Loans Board.