By: Paul Weston

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into how recycled water, not fit for drinking, became supplied to taps, showers and water appliances at the Gold Coast’s Pimpama treatment plant.
The Sunday Mail has obtained a “high importance” email from Gold Coast Water director Richard Went sent to staff about the health scare.

Council sources late yesterday said Gold Coast Water staff were visiting their doctors after learning they had been drinking the water since September.
“We know of one who is sick. They’re going to their doctors. This is so wrong, we’re going to be drinking this stuff,” the source said.

“If they can get this small thing mucked up, what are they going to do to the rest of us when recycled water is introduced?”

Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke yesterday said he could understand the concerns, but extra checks would be made once recycled water was introduced into southeast Queensland’s $9 billion water grid.
Cr Clarke said the cause of the Pimpama incident was being determined, but it appeared to have occurred after an apprentice mixed up waste-water lines directed into the plant.

About 200 employees visiting the facility and 40 staffers working in the control room may have drunk the water not fit for human consumption.
“We’re contacting all the staff. Three had some queasiness and they still went to work and thought nothing of it,” Cr Clarke said.

“Initial investigations indicated the recycled water was supplied into the office building from early September until it was discovered and subsequently disconnected today,” Mr Went said in an email to staff on Friday.
He said Gold Coast Water had acted quickly to switch off the faulty supply and Queensland Health was informed.