Relief as dirty drinking water comes clean again

UPPER Yarra residents can stop boiling their water after the local water authority declared it to be safe for consumption once more.
Yarra Valley Water sent a letter out to residents on Monday telling them the good news.
For the past month, Upper Yarra residents have had to either boil their water or purchase bottled water.
Yarra Valley Water managing director Tony Kelly said people could be confident that their household tap water had returned to its previously high standard.
Mr Kelly said it was possible that while customers might still see some colour in their household water, it was now safe to drink.
“Melbourne Water is continuing work to install permanent filters at each affected township and these filters will be operated in the event that we experience high levels of turbidity again,” Mr Kelly said.
“If customers have taps that are infrequently used, these taps should be flushed to remove any residual turbid water.”
Mr Kelly said Yarra Valley Water would continue to closely monitor the water quality in the Upper Yarra region and would operate the drinking water stations until Friday, 17 August. “We thank everyone concerned for their cooperation and patience in having to boil their water or obtain clean water from one of Yarra Valley Water’s drinking water stations while the boil water notices were in place,” Mr Kelly said. “It was unfortunate that the situation was caused by run-off into the Upper Yarra Reservoir from rain that we desperately need.”