Issued by the SEQ Water Grid Manager

The Water Grid is in full swing working as a coordinated regional network to improve the taste of Brisbane and Ipswich resident's tap water after new measures were implemented Water Grid Manager Acting CEO, Barry Dennien said today.

Mr Dennien said that the recent water taste and odour changes some residents are experiencing are a legacy from the drought and storm activity in late 2008, which triggered significant run-off into the Brisbane River and Wivenhoe Dam system.

"This change in taste and odour is purely aesthetic in nature and the water is safe to use," he said.

To help manage the taste and odour of your tap water the Water Grid is being used to:

• decrease the production of water from Mt Crosby Water Treatment Plant
• increase the production of water from North Pine Water Treatment Plant
• flush the Mt Crosby Weir pumping pool with cleaner water from Wivenhoe Dam
• transfer 50 million litres of water a day from the Gold Coast to blend with Mt Crosby treated water
• transfer 20 million litres of water a day from the Gold Coast to Logan.

The areas affected were some Brisbane and Ipswich suburbs.

"I'd like to thank the community for their patience during this restoration effort.

"Test results that we received today indicated that these measures are working and there has been a reduction in manganese and geosmin levels, and the community should start to experience improvements to the taste and odour of their tap water by the end of the week.

"We are doing everything we can to fix this in a sustainable way and through the connected regional Water Grid we are able to transport water from other sources to help fix the problem quicker," he said.

The Water Grid is transporting a total of 70 million litres of water from the Gold Coast.

"Bringing the water up from the Gold Coast is a practical example of how a connected regional water grid allows us to manage our water resource more effectively."

Mr Dennien said a number of factors have caused the taste and odour changes.

"South East Queensland has had almost seven years of drought and the recent rain, although welcome, increased the organic matter and sediments flowing into the water storages at Mt Crosby Water Treatment Plant.

"Coupled with the increased summer temperatures, this has resulted in an increase in algal growth that has resulted in some changes in the appearance, taste and odour of your tap water," he said.

The algal growth at the Mt Crosby Weir has resulted in increased levels of geosmin that can cause a ‘musty' and/or ‘earthy' taste.

"Geosmin is a non toxic, naturally occurring compound and as a result your water is still safe to use," he said.