UPDATED: THE owner of two South Hobart cafes has been buying bottled water for customers after a boil-water alert hit the inner Hobart suburb.
Mr Morton said he was advised by TasWater to boil all water for drinking at his cafes, but that water used in coffee and for washing would be fine because it was heated.
EARLIER: HEALTH Minister Michael Ferguson argues the boil water alert is another reason the Government needs to take over TasWater.
“It does again indicate why the Government went to the election with a policy to get infrastructure fixed sooner and to bring our prices down.
“When it hits home into a city suburb it does indicate what the Government’s position has been and why.” EARLIER: South Hobart residents will have to boil their water until at least tomorrow, with further sampling of the Arthur St water supply to be undertaken at a local laboratory.
He said TasWater staff were trying to narrow down the causes of the bacterial contamination, which could involve the mixing of water from different supplies, burst water pipes or the improper disinfecting of fire hydrants after use.
“What we do is a lot of flushing of pipes and the system in events like this.
EARLIER: RESIDENTS of a Hobart suburb are being told to boil their water before consumption after E. coli bacteria was discovered in the water supply.
Information on the boil water alert is available on the TasWater website (www.taswater.com.au) or by calling 136 992.
Customers should boil all water used for: ■ Drinking ■ Brushing teeth ■ Washing and preparing food or beverages ■ Preparing baby formula ■ Making ice.