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Recently people in suburbs across Greater Brisbane have noticed an earthy, dirt-like taste and a stagnant smell to their tap water, though the colour remains unchanged.
Urban Utilities – the company responsible for supplying drinking water, recycled water and sewerage services to customers in Brisbane, Ipswich, and surrounding local government areas – wrote in a post last Friday that it was aware some customers “have been experiencing a temporary change in the taste and odour of their tap water”.
“Seqwater has advised that the temporary change in taste and odour is due to recent hot and rainy weather conditions, which have caused an increase in an organic compound called 2-Methylisoborneol (MIB) in the raw water supply,” the post stated.
“This is a naturally occurring compound that is safe to drink but can cause an earthy or woody taste or odour in water.”
But despite assurances that the water was safe to consume, residents expressed frustration, with some responding to the Urban Utilities post with claims of stomach issues in recent days.
Another said they had spent Christmas and Boxing Day “on the toilet”, and wrote that MIB could cause gastro, vomiting and abdominal pain.
“This is the first time in 30 years I’ve experienced drinking water like this … [I’ve] also had stomach pains in the last few days,” one person wrote.
Another said they had spent Christmas and Boxing Day “on the toilet”, and wrote that MIB could cause gastro, vomiting and abdominal pain.
“While these chemicals may cause an unpleasant taste and odour, neither is harmful at the
levels typically seen in the drinking water for Brisbane and Ipswich, and neither can cause
gastroenteritis at these low levels.”
The Urban Utilities post added that Seqwater, the authority responsible for delivering safe water to customers across south-east Queensland, had increased its monitoring and was working to keep residents informed.
“The water will return to its usual taste and odour, however Seqwater has advised it may take some time, depending on weather conditions,” the post continued.
“In the meantime, cooling the water in the fridge can help reduce any earthy taste.”
It is unclear when the tap water in affected areas will return to normal.
The city’s water provider is being urged to reimburse hundreds of residents who reported falling sick due to foul-tasting water.
Logan mayor Jon Raven is leading the calls, and has criticised the authority’s response as “not good enough”.
Heritage Park’s Dianne Wheeler is one of more than 280 locals from across the city who reported concerns about the quality of water coming from their taps.
Many also reported falling ill, with reports of vomiting, diarrhoea, hives, headaches, dry skin and other symptoms.
Water in taps across Logan began changing in taste and odour around Christmas last year.
Seqwater, which provides water to all of south-east Queensland, said the changes were a result of recent hot, wet weather.
Seqwater advised the water was safe to consume, as it met the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, and should return to normal “in the coming days”.
But almost one month later, Ms Wheeler and many others claim the water continues to smell of dirt, and tastes even worse.
She said she was sick after first drinking it.
“I had gastro for two days – I was vomiting for two days and had diarrhoea for two days,” Ms Wheeler said.
“I tried it again – I have tried boiling it, I have tried freezing it, I have tried cooling it – and it still tastes like mud.”
Many residents have spent hundreds of dollars on bottled water and filters.
