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WATER QUALITY
The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: I seek leave to make an explanation before asking the Attorney-General, representing the Minister for Government Enterprises, a question about the provision of filtered water to residents living in and around the Adelaide Hills towns of Houghton and Inglewood.
Leave granted. The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: Last Monday, 31 May, I attended a public meeting at the Houghton Country Women's Association Hall. I estimate that some 70 locals crowded into the hall to express their dismay at the quality of mains water provided to their homes. These people have waited 30 years for filtered water. Many of them live within a stone's throw of the Anstey Hill filtration plant and their cars attract metropolitan registration rates, but compared with their neighbours living on the plains, their water is closer to Third World standards. Aside from the aesthetics of bathing and washing in turbid water, which smells like a swimming pool, those present were outraged at the ongoing expenses inflicted upon them as a result of being serviced by unfiltered water. They were enraged by the extra cost of installing filtration and softening systems, the extra cost of replacing corroded hot water systems, the extra cost of bottled water and the cost of extra soap, shampoo and washing powder needed to get up lather in hard water. Of even greater concern is the belief prevalent amongst parents in the area that their children suffer a higher rate of illness due to the water quality. SA Water claims the water is safe to consume: local parents are not convinced. One resident spoke of a chlorine reading of 4.3 taken from a pipe near his home when it should have been just .2. That reading is more than 20 times higher than it should have been. The residents of the area have an eminently reasonable request. They want the State Government to announce a timetable for the provision of filtered water to all residents of the Adelaide Hills who currently lack filtered water. My questions to the Minister are: 1. How is the quantity of chlorine to be added to the mains water determined and by what method is the chlorine added? 2. Will the Minister commit to providing filtered water for all residents of the Adelaide Hills Council by the year 2003? If not, why not, and will he at least indicate how much longer residents will have to wait?The Hon. K.T. GRIFFIN: I will refer the questions to my colleague in another place and bring back a reply.
In reply to Hon. SANDRA KANCK (3 June 1999).
The Hon. K.T. GRIFFIN: The Minister for Government Enterprises has advised the following communities in the Adelaide Hills Council area are benefiting from the program:
Houghton, Paracombe and Inglewood are now being supplied with filtered water by $2.1 million pipeline extension from the existing Anstey Hill water treatment plant, that commenced operation in March 2001;
Gumeracha, Birdwood, Cudlee Creek and Kersbrook will be supplied by a $5.6 million pipeline extension from the existing Summit Storage water treatment plant near Balhannah, which was established in 1997. The project is expected to be progressively commissioned at each of the above-mentioned Hills' townships from August to October 2001 ;
The Mt Pleasant, Springton and Eden Valley communities are now being provided with filtered water from a new $ 7.5 million water treatment plant that has been built at Mt Pleasant. The plant, which was officially opened by the Minister for Government Enterprises on 8 August 2001, incorporates an innovative treatment process called MIEX (magnetic ion exchange resin). MIEX reduces colour and the majority of dissolved organic carbon in water, which significantly reduces the levels of chlorine needed to achieve disinfection.