Boil Water Alert - Aberdeen, Scone & Murrurundi
Boil Water Alert – Aberdeen, Scone & Murrurundi (Including Murrurundi Pipeline)
Updated: 8:35am, 25 June 2025 - No new updates
Upper Hunter Shire Council has issued a Boil Water Alert for residents in Aberdeen, Scone and Murrurundi (Including Murrurundi Pipeline)
When Does the Alert Apply?
From now. Until this alert is listed.
What You Need To Do:
Water used for the following purposes must be boiled before consumption.
• Drinking
• Preparing food, including washing fruit and vegetables
• Making ice
• Brushing teeth
• Preparing baby formula
Kettles with automatic shut-off switches can be used. Store cooled, boiled water in clean, lidded containers and refrigerate where possible.
Everyone, particularly people caring for young children, should be careful to avoid scalding when heating and then cooling the water.
Tap water is safe for bathing. There is a potential risk if water is swallowed during washing and bathing.
Why This Alert Is in Place:
The recent heavy rain in the Glenbawn Dam catchment has caused problems with effective water treatment, meaning that drinking water is not safe.
The source water contains high turbidity, sanitation of this high turbidity water is ineffective leaving pathogens in the water. Removal of these pathogens is required to meet drinking water standards.
The NSW Health website provides information and special considerations for:
What is an NTU?
Water turbidity is measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU). Turbidity refers to how cloudy or murky the water appears due to tiny suspended particles like silt, clay, organic matter and pathogens. These particles scatter light – and the more scattering that occurs, the higher the NTU reading.
What is Sanitation?
Sanitation is the process of destroying pathogens in the water through chlorination, this process takes 30 minutes.
Understanding Turbidity, Sanitation and Safety Limits
Council monitors turbidity at multiple points throughout our water network. Continuous monitoring is carried out at Glenbawn Dam, with daily turbidity readings conducted by Upper Hunter Shire Council staff at designated locations.
The water reticulation system has a critical turbidity control limit of 4 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit) to ensure that the added chlorine can effectively reach and destroy any pathogens. When turbidity exceeds 4 NTUs, chlorine disinfection becomes significantly less effective, and the water is considered unsafe for consumption, triggering a Boiled Water Alert.
Turbidity levels from the Glenbawn Dam supply began exceeding 4 NTU on Friday 30 May 2025, following heavy rainfall and high inflows. These elevated levels have persisted and are currently above 7 NTU.
There is currently no observable trend indicating whether turbidity levels are rising or falling, so it is not possible to estimate the duration of this event at this stage.
Please note that boiled water is microbiologically safe, after boiling.
What is Council Doing:
• Testing alternative water sources, including low-level Glenbawn draws and the Aberdeen river intake
• Conducting multiple daily water quality tests
• Working closely with NSW Health to monitor the situation and determine when the alert can be lifted
• Providing ongoing updates via this website and Facebook
How Long Will This Last?
Council does not currently know how long this the boiled water alert will remain in place. The duration will be based on achieving turbidity levels of the source water measuring consistently below 4NTU which will permit sanitation of the water to meet drinking standard.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
FAQs
What contaminants are we concerned about?
Our water treatment processes don’t work effectively when there is increased water turbidity. This means that pathogens could be in the water that can make people sick with gastroenteritis. Boiling water as directed kills these pathogens and makes the water safe to drink.
I've drunk the tap water - what should I do?
Don't panic. However, monitor yourself for symptoms over the next week including:
- Stomach cramps or pain
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fever
People most at risk include the elderly, the very young, or those with weak immune systems.
If symptoms develop, stay hydrated with cooled boiled water (or bottled water) and contact your GP. Let them know about the boil water alert. If symptoms are severe, call 000.