WARNING: Old water reservoirs being reactivated

[GTR73]

Due to the current drought and short water supplies, Brisbane City Council is reactivating Lake Manchester, west of Brisbane (other side of Mt Cootha), which hasn't been used as a water resource since the eighties. They're also going to reactivate Enoggerra dam near The Gap in the next few months, which hasn't been used for a couple of years.  
What this means to us is there could be implications with regards what the council will be putting in the water to make it safe – i.e. they could use additional chemicals, or extra amounts of chemicals, making it safe for human consumption. However I don't think they'll be too worried about what'll happen to people's fish.
With all the recent discussion on the boards regards water changes and water conditioning, probably worthwhile being extra careful with your water changing for the next few months.
Personally, I won't be using the method of a hose in tank while I throw in a few drops of conditioner. I'm also not convinced natural water aging over a few days would be safe in this instance. So I'll be using strong water conditioner (Prime or Aquastar), which neutralises copper, other heavy metals, and most other contaminants - in a bucket, before adding to my tanks. And IMO the supermarket style chlorine neutraliser won't cut it against what the council might potentially use when they bring these old reservoirs online.

Cheers.

[GTR73]

Further to this, I had a quick look on the Brisbane City Council website
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:BRISWATER:564590895:pc=PC_1427

and found the following on how water is treated . . .

"Water is pumped from these dams to treatment plants at:

North Pine Water Treatment Plant
Mt Crosby Eastbank Treatment Plant
Mt Crosby Westbank Treatment Plant
 
At the treatment plants all water goes through clarification, filtration and a two-stage disinfection process to make sure it's safe to deliver to residents.

The first stage of the disinfection process uses chlorine. A mixture of ammonia and chlorine (chloramine) make up the second stage.

Water storage and delivery
Water is stored in reservoirs at the treatment plants. These reservoirs are covered to protect the water from contamination.

Water is then transported to other reservoirs in the Brisbane area and to other councils.

The stored water is distributed through pipes to your home or business.

Chemical additives
There are virtually no fresh water sources that can be guaranteed free from contamination. Water authorities need to treat water to ensure a safe water supply.

In Brisbane these chemicals are present in the water supply:

aluminium sulphate (alum) is added to combine with dirt and bacteria particles in water so that they settle and can be filtered out during the treatment processes. These processes leave only a fraction of the alum. Alum dosing makes the water slightly acidic
lime is added to reduce acidity so water doesn't corrode the city's water mains
ammonia and chlorine are added to form chloramine, which kills bacteria. Chloramine is maintained in the water to ensure bacteria do not re-grow in the distribution system and the water remains disinfected"

. . . worthwhile knowing as a fish owner I guess. There's chemical analysis data sheets on the website also.

[DeagonTheo]

[quote:5692e52ac2]There are people from all over Oz frequenting this forum and they draw they're water from numerous councils. God only knows how much Chlorine or Chloramine they put in their supplies.
If I were to tell people to do a water change with a garden hose and their council was putting in double the amount of chlorine to where I come from, its a bit late to say oops when their fish die.
To the people who do it that way I wish you luck, but I would probably refrain from telling other people to do it that way.
[/quote:5692e52ac2]

Lest we Forget.

Theo

[ashhhh]

brisbanes shitty tasting water is about to get even shittier :P ,
thank god hinzys' still sittin at around 80%
.....give or take afew million litres :lol:

[bryce2003]

I spoke to the SEQ Water Board as well as the BCC today seeking other info about water etc. and found out that these dams have already been activated.
Cheers,
Bryce.

[GTR73]

Those sneaky reservoir dogs!  :lol:
Anyway, this weeks local suburban newspaper said "to be re-activated" but I guess that's the media for ya.
Media also recently said Corby's sentence to be reduced from 20 to 15 years, until the Indonesian judge kindly pointed out he hadn't even confirmed the original sentence, so it wasn't being reduced from anything to anything! So I guess another reminder to take whatever the media tells you with a grain of salt (excuse the pun  :lol: ).

Good work Bryce, to ring the authorities and let us know what's happening.

[bryce2003]

The bitter pill that councils and governments serve their grains of salt with should generally be treated with the contempt they deserve and be left to flow like water off a ducks back. The media is just the dish with which the above is served on.
Cheers,
Bryce.