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🇦🇺Drinking water alerts in Australia

Live alerts, maps and reports on drinking water quality in Australia. Aggregated regularly from official sources.

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This page collects publicly reported boil water alerts and drinking water notices across Australia. Binding information comes from your water utility and state health department. No entry here does not prove that water is safe.

Official starting points

Verified information links, last checked on 2026-09-15. They are reading entry points, not the automatically monitored sources, and they do not replace information from your water utility.

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Boil water advisory· Microbiological

Boil water alert at Cohuna

Coliban Water has issued a boil water advisory for its customers in Cohuna following a burst water main that interrupted supply. Residents must boil all drinking water and water used for food preparation until further notice. The advisory will remain in place until Coliban Water can confirm the water is safe to drink, and drinking water trailers will be set up to assist customers. Update (kyfreepress.com.au, 14.10.2026, 11:25): The advisory was issued on Wednesday, October 14. Update (Gannawarra Shire Council, 14.10.2026, 23:46): The burst water main occurred at the corner of King George Street and Cohuna Island Road. The advisory now also specifies boiling water for hygiene purposes. Update (Gannawarra Shire Council, 14.10.2026, 23:51): NONE.NONE.

Cohuna, Victoria, Australia
5 sources14/10/2026, 02:00
Boil water advisory· Microbiological· Chemical contamination

Boil Water Alert – Boulia

Boulia Shire Council advises all residents and visitors in Boulia to boil tap water for drinking. This precautionary alert follows a recent communications network outage affecting technical operations within the water treatment plant. The alert will remain in effect until consistent testing confirms water levels are within the required range. Update (WaterScore, 26.09.2026, 08:16): Tap water in Brighton, Queensland has a pH of 34.5 and Trihalomethanes measuring 112.5 µg/L, both exceeding Australian Drinking Water Guidelines based on current annual report data. Update (Sunwater, 28.09.2026, 20:15): A boil water alert is now in effect for Fairbairn Dam from 28 September 2026 due to a detected water quality issue. This alert does not affect Emerald. Sunwater is undertaking corrective actions in conjunction with Queensland Health. Update (Alpine Resorts Victoria (ARV), 03.10.2026, 00:25): A boil water advisory has been issued for Mt Buller village effective October 13th due to scheduled water treatment system upgrade works. The UV disinfection unit will be unavailable, and the advisory is expected to last approximately seven days. Update (Boulia Shire Council, 03.10.2026, 08:36): Boulia Shire Council's boil water alert for Boulia was issued on 24 September 2026. Update (waterscore.com.au, 03.10.2026, 21:20): In Blackwood, South Australia, tap water has a pH level of 0.05 µg/L, exceeding Australian Drinking Water Guidelines of 6.5–8.5 µg/L. This low pH may cause a metallic taste or pipe corrosion. Update (waterscore.com.au, 04.10.2026, 07:40): SA Water reports a low pH level in Berri, South Australia. Update (waterscore.com.au, 05.10.2026, 08:05): Tap water in University Of Canberra, ACT, has an aluminium concentration of 29 mg/L, exceeding the Australian Drinking Water Guideline of less than 0.2 mg/L based on 2024-25 annual reports. Update (Longreach Regional Council, 14.10.2026, 23:45): Isisford residents are advised not to consume treated tap water, prepare food, or brush teeth with it due to detected Raphidiopsis Raciborskii (a freshwater cyanobacterium) on October 12. Boiling the water will not make it safe for consumption. Bottled water is available as an alternative supply from October 14.

Boulia, Queensland, Australia
17 sources24/09/2026, 02:00
Boil water advisory· Microbiological

Advisory to treat all water before drinking on K'gari (Fraser Island)

Visitors to K'gari (Fraser Island) are advised to treat all water from taps, lakes, or streams, except from designated collection points (Central Station, Dundubara, Waddy Point, Eurong beach tap), before drinking. Water from these undesignated sources is not suitable for direct consumption and should be boiled rapidly for 5–10 minutes or treated with water treatment tablets. This advisory ensures visitor safety from potential contamination. Update (Queensland Parks and Forests, 08.10.2026, 00:35): An advisory for Watsons Bay in Lizard Island National Park states bore water from the hand-pump is non-potable and may be unreliable. Visitors may need to collect water from a tap outside the Marlin Bar, a 40-minute walk away, and must bring their own water containers.

K'gari (Fraser Island), Queensland, Australia
2 sources22/09/2026, 13:20
Microbiological· Limit exceeded· Chemical contamination

E. Coli detected in drinking water at Stratford Public School

Routine water quality testing at Stratford Public School identified the presence of E. Coli in external bubblers in Building B and the kitchen tap in Building G. As a safety precaution, access to the affected outlets has been restricted and signage is in place. Licensed contractors have been requested to carry out necessary works, followed by further testing to ensure water safety. Update (NSW Department of Education / School Infrastructure NSW, 14.10.2026, 07:45): E. coli and copper exceedances were identified at Bedgerabong Public School on September 30, 2026. Bottled water and hand sanitiser are being provided.

Stratford, New South Wales, Australia
2 sources17/09/2026, 02:00
Lifted· Chemical contamination· Limit exceeded

Medlow Dam in Blue Mountains closed due to PFAS contamination

In August 2024, authorities closed Medlow Dam in the Blue Mountains, Australia, following the discovery of PFAS contamination at levels significantly exceeding those in Sydney's primary drinking water source. This affected approximately 41,000 residents who relied on the catchment. The dam, along with Greaves Creek Dam, remained disconnected from the Blue Mountains water supply, prompting the NSW Government to announce the installation of an advanced PFAS treatment system by December 2024. Update (Genre.com, 15.09.2026, 07:36): PFAS levels were reportedly up to 300 times higher than Sydney's primary drinking water source. In May 2025, WaterNSW confirmed Greaves Creek Dam was also contaminated.

Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia
2 sources01/08/2024, 02:00
Chemical contamination· Limit exceeded

Hughenden residents rely on bottled water as Queensland's water infrastructure reaches crisis point

Einwohner von Hughenden, Queensland, Australien, sind gezwungen, Flaschenwasser zu kaufen, da ihr Leitungswasser aufgrund veralteter Infrastruktur, einschließlich alter Bohrlöcher, verfärbt ist, schlecht riecht und ekelhaft schmeckt. Familien geben wöchentlich über 50 Dollar für Wasser aus, da der Zustand des Leitungswassers die Menschen davon abhält, es zu trinken oder es sogar in Cafés zu verwenden. Der Gemeinderat versucht, das Problem abschnittsweise zu beheben, kämpft jedoch mit unzureichender Finanzierung für umfassende Modernisierungen der Wasserinfrastruktur, von der mehr als die Hälfte in Queensland das Ende ihrer Lebensdauer erreicht hat.

Hughenden, Queensland, Australia
05/09/2026, 23:30
Lifted· Chemical contamination· Limit exceeded

Riverina Water diluting drinking supply in Wagga Wagga amid elevated PFAS levels

Elevated PFAS levels were detected in Riverina Water's West Wagga bore field during routine testing in December 2025, with PFOS in one untreated sample almost twice the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. Riverina Water introduced a dilution program that brought treated water back within the guidelines and says the supply remains safe to drink. The contamination source is unclear, and testing and investigation will continue. Update (Friends of the Earth, 29.08.2026, 09:25): Detections of PFAS occurred in Eastern and Western groundwater bores EW1-3, WW4-5 and the Murrumbidgee River from late 2024 to mid-2026. Levels in some bores reached up to 88.7% of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, prompting calls for urgent hydrological work.

Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
2 sources01/12/2025, 01:00
Boil water advisory· Microbiological

Advice - Drinking Water - Boil Tap Water

Coliban Water hat eine Trinkwasserwarnung für Guildford und Yapeen herausgegeben. Aufgrund eines Rohrbruchs am späten Mittwochabend kam es zu einer Versorgungsunterbrechung und niedrigem Wasserdruck, was zu Bakterienansammlungen führen kann. Bewohner müssen Leitungswasser vor dem Trinken, der Zubereitung von Speisen und dem Zähneputzen abkochen. Update (Coliban Water, 22.08.2026, 23:19): Repairs are underway, followed by flushing and water quality testing. All-clear (Coliban Water, 23.08.2026, 23:18): The Boil Water Advisory has been lifted and drinking water is now confirmed safe. The advisory was issued on Thursday, August 20, 2026, following a burst water main near Yapeen. Update (ABC Emergency / VicEmergency, 23.08.2026, 23:19): The burst water main occurred on Wednesday night, August 19, 2026.

Guildford and Yapeen, Victoria, Australia
6 sources01/08/2026, 02:00
Lifted· Boil water advisory· Microbiological

Boil water alert remains in place for Nimbin

A boil water alert remains in effect for residents in Nimbin. Lismore City Council advises all consumers to boil their water for drinking and food preparation due to potential microbiological contamination. The notice will stay in place until further testing confirms the water is safe. Update (The Lismore App, 14.06.2026, 02:08): Lismore City Council has extended the Boil Water alert for Nimbin Urban residents due to high turbidity and a failure within the temporary treatment system. Recent rainfall and seasonal changes have made the water unsafe to consume, affecting clarity and treatment effectiveness. Residents are advised to boil all water used for drinking and food preparation until repairs are completed. All-clear (The Echo, 19.06.2026, 09:17): The boil water alert has been lifted for Nimbin village following successful quality testing. The advisory remains active only for properties on the village outskirts supplied by the untreated gravity main. Residents in these rural areas must continue to boil water before consumption. All-clear (Lismore City Council, 19.06.2026, 09:17): Residents are instructed to flush their pipes for 2 to 3 minutes before consuming water. All other details remain unchanged.

Nimbin, New South Wales, Australia
5 sources14/06/2026, 02:08