Bangholme water treatment plant

As reported in the Star Group and Herald Sun Newspapers
EMPLOYEES at a Bangholme water treatment plant were drinking water typically used to flush toilets and urinals for more than two weeks.
In a plumbing mix-up this week admitted by Melbourne Water, about 25 employees at its Eastern Treatment Plant in Bangholme had been drinking Class-C recycled water, which is normally unfit for human consumption.
Melbourne Water released a statement this week describing the problem.
“Water was supplied through a tap that should supply drinking water,” it said.
The water authority will now investigate the mix-up to determine why a tap marked as drinking water was in fact running the low-grade recycled water.
Eastern Treatment Plant manager Mike Smith said the recycled water had been screened, chlorinated, filtered and chlorinated again.
But he admitted that several employees had complained they were ill during the time the recycled water was running through the tap.
“We have had several reported cases of gastro-intestinal illness and these will be investigated to see if they are related to the incident,” Mr Smith said.
“We are doing everything we can to support our people.
“It has happened as a result of a cross connection and should not have occurred.
“We are treating this matter very seriously and we will be taking all the necessary steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
Mr Smith said the water was normally used to flush toilets, urinals and other activities around the plant – but was never intended for drinking.
Melbourne Water has since switched off the supply and notified its staff, as well as the Department of Human Services.