An urgent tap water warning has been issued for residents of Flinders, Point Leo, and Shoreham on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula after a dead rodent was found in a local reservoir, raising significant contamination concerns.
The grim discovery was made during a maintenance inspection at Shoreham Reservoir on March 20, 2025. Just before midnight on that same day, the Department of Health and Human Services, via Victoria Emergency, alerted residents that the tap water was "not safe to drink" or use without boiling.
As of now, residents are being advised to boil their tap water before consumption or opt for bottled water altogether. The precautionary measures have been implemented to safeguard public health amidst growing concerns. Utility company South East Water has since released a Precautionary Boil Water Advisory notice and initiated tests on the water quality in the impacted region.
According to the health authorities, while "E. coli itself is not necessarily harmful, finding it means that the drinking water may be contaminated with other germs that can cause illness." They noted that germs present in tainted water may lead to various gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, cramps, headaches, and other stomach-related ailments.
"Infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are particularly at risk," the advisory stated. Residents must ensure water is boiled not just for drinking but also for cleaning fruits and vegetables, preparing food or baby formula, and even making ice cubes.
Additionally, water from taps should be boiled before brushing teeth, and children should carry cooled boiled or bottled water for consumption at school. Meanwhile, even pets and livestock should only consume boiled water from the tap.
In the interim, accessible drinking water can be sourced from Flinders Civic Hall located at 54 Cook Street and the Shoreham Recreational area on Reserve Cliff Road, as noted by VicEmergency. Authorities have indicated that the bad news about the water supply is expected to last until further test results are returned.
South East Water affirmed its commitment, stating it is "working around the clock to return water supply to normal as soon as possible." The utility is collaborating closely with the Department of Health and has pledged to provide further updates once they have more information to share.
As of now, the next update on the situation is scheduled for 5 PM today, March 21, 2025. In the meantime, anyone experiencing symptoms of water contamination or concerned about their health is urged to reach out to their doctor or use the Nurse-on-Call service available at 1300 60 60 24.
