Gold Coast recycled water plant breakdown - staff and visitors drink contaminated water for 2 months until error discovered ...

It couldn't be worse timing for the Bligh government with their QWC PR strategy in tatters.

Now a contamination scare at the Pimpama recycled water plant.

Employees and plant site visitors drink contaminated water for 2 months until the error is discovered.

Excerpt from the Australian:

10 November 2008
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National Health and Medical Research Council water quality advisory committee chairman Don Bursill issued the warning as the Gold Coast City Council launched an investigation into how unsafe recycled waste water was put into a treatment plant's drinking water.
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Human error was being blamed for a mistake at Gold Coast Water's Pimpana recycled water plant that resulted in staff drinking inadequately treated waste water.

The general public was not exposed to the water.

Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke said a staff member was believed to have been responsible for mixing up waste-water lines at the plant in September.

A pipeline was disconnected on Friday when the problem was uncovered.

Up to 240 employees and visitors who may have drunk water that was not fit for consumption are being contacted to determine if they had suffered any ill effects.

"Somebody has stuffed up and it should have been cross-checked before it happened," Mr Clarke said.

"If it had happened in the public works, it would have been disastrous. I am told that the checks are there to ensure that cannot happen."

See - Human error results in Pimpama recycled water plant staff drinking contaminated water.

And the Pimpama plant produces recycled water for non-potable use.

See - Purple pipe part of the green solution.

Trust us - says the Bligh government ...