SYDNEY, Mar 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) – As devastating floods continue to swamp much of eastern Australia, an environmental scientist is warning of the threat to the drinking water supply for millions of people.
Writing in the online current affairs publication, the Conversation, Ian Wright, from Western Sydney University, noted that, torrential rains forced the temporary closure of two drinking water treatment plants, in the south-eastern region of Queensland.
In response, health authorities are urging people to conserve drinking water, which has already led to one bottle shop in the state capital of Brisbane offering free ice to thirsty residents.
Wright said, the problem was caused by an excessive run-off of soil, which led to “milky chocolate brown” flood waters, which could become even more contaminated by various forms of waste matter potentially creating “a dangerous cocktail.”
“The trouble is, the treatment system has been hit quickly by a tremendous volume of water, which puts great pressure on the process, which has not been designed for such disasters,” he said today.
Wright said, the huge input of unclean water could overwhelm the system by, for example, clogging the system’s filters and ultimately diluting the chlorine and other chemicals used in the disinfection process.
“Water must be crystal clear by the time it gets to your tap,” he said, adding that, during these unprecedented flood times, cloudy water could appear in the system, meaning, the entire water body had to be “flushed” along with extensive testing done, before the “all clear” could finally be given.– NNN-AGENCIES
