BLACKBUTT DISCOLOURED WATER
Blackbutt normally uses Boondooma water but a faulty pressure reducing valve (PRV) on the pipeline has required Council to switch over to Boobir dam.
Boobir dam has elevated dissolved iron and manganese levels suspended in the water. Conventional water treatment plants do not remove these trace elements. Liquid sodium hypochlorite (Chlorine) is used to disinfect the town water supply from virus, bacteria, and protozoans. This oxidising agent also oxidises the dissolved trace metals which when oxidised present as tea/rust coloured water.
When the water supply demand is low, the by-product can be a ‘rust’ look or discoloured water within the reticulation supply. This can at times build up in low flow areas of the network and cause pockets of discoloured water that while aesthetically displeasing is bacteriologically safe.
South Burnett Regional Council Water Team recently air scoured the pipe network of the whole of Blackbutt to minimise the effect. Until Council can change back to the Boondooma water the only treatment available is advising Council when the problem occurs, and crews will flush the water main in that area.
