WORKERS at the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing site were drinking water containing E. coli and enterococci bacteria for at least six days.
Elevated levels of the bacteria are indicative of faecal contamination.
Construction consortium Nexus was first alerted to the potential for contamination on February 15, when the company was issued with an improvement notice from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, which a WHSQ spokesman said was "in relation to the provision of drinking water, including the quality, cross contamination risks, signage and availability".
The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union said a number of workers had recently taken sick.
Workers contacted The Chronicle after Nexus told crews their drinking water was contaminated on Monday, but would not explain further.
Nexus provided the results of water tests conducted on Tuesday, February 20, to WHSQ late on Wednesday.
The results showed elevated levels of the bacteria E. coli and enterococci in drinking water at four of 13 worksites.
The WHSQ spokesman said Nexus had advised water at the four sites was "immediately flushed, disinfected and chlorinated".
WHSQ inspectors, including an occupational hygienist were on site yesterday, and WHSQ has taken samples to conduct its own water testing.
A Nexus spokeswoman said no related sickness had been reported to the onsite paramedic in the past two weeks.

During a media briefing last week, Umgeni Water warned that there are serious water shortages in this dam, which ultimately supplies water to an estimated six million consumers in uMgungundlovu, Pietermaritzburg, Durban, iLembe, Middle South Coast (Ugu) and Ixopo (Harry Gwala DM).
An estimated two million consumers are dependent on Albert Falls for water.
Today we hosting media at the Albert Falls Dam, sharing our plans towards ensuring that the water crisis is managed in the province #waterislife #UmgeniWatercares pic.twitter.com/TXuSOLJ1wn — Umgeni Water (@UmgeniWater) February 13, 2018 The Mgeni system comprises, in its upper part, Mearns Weir, Spring Grove Dam and Midmar Dam and in its lower part Albert Falls, Nagle and Inanda dams.
It ultimately supplies water to an estimated four million consumers in uMgungundlovu, Pietermaritzburg, Durban and in the north of Ugu.
Of great concern to Umgeni Water is the level of Albert Falls, a strategically important dam that has consistently remained at under 30% for at least two years.
A complication is the high evaporation rate of surface water at Albert Falls, and current high temperatures are not assisting in preservation of water resources.
Indeed we have seen large rainfalls but we urge households to continuously save water – Mr Steve Gillham #WaterIsLife pic.twitter.com/fBWQZ8YMnf — Umgeni Water (@UmgeniWater) February 13, 2018 During a Mgeni system Joint Operations Committee JOC meeting, it was decided that water restrictions of 15% in about 80% of Durban, all of Pietermaritzburg and all of uMgungundlovu will remain in place.
Here is your weekly dam update: The Vaal River System consisting of 14 dams serving mainly Gauteng Sasol and Eskom is at 93.1%.
Here are the latest dam percentages throughout the country: For a more in depth rainfall update, visit WeatherSA or click here.
For a comprehensive drought status report from the Department of Water and Sanitation, click here.

The majority of San Luis Obispo County is now experiencing severe drought conditions, according to a new U.S. Drought Monitor report.
Only the northwest corner of the county is spared the “severe” designation — even so, it’s experiencing abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions.
A very dry winter has caused drought conditions to spread quickly from Southern California up the Central Coast and into the Central Valley.
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Cal Poly has recorded only 4.51 inches this rain season, as of Feb. 15, according to PG&E meteorologist John Lindsey.
San Luis Obispo’s average rainfall for this point in the season is 12.43 inches, meaning the city has received 36 percent of its typical rainfall, Lindsey said.
Last year on Feb. 15 — after San Luis Obispo recorded its rainiest January in 20 years — Cal Poly had received 33.48 inches of rain, which was 269 percent of its average, Lindsey said.
More Videos 0:38 Beach weather in the winter: ‘Summer’ comes to Pismo Pause 0:24 Hurricane-force winds push huge waves into Morro Bay Harbor 3:29 Videos: Montecito mudslides left path of destruction, from hills to beach 0:29 Search dogs help firefighters look for victims after Montecito floods 0:19 Flooding closes Highway 1 in Oceano 0:42 Take in the sights of a beautiful beach day in Morro Bay 2:06 Watch bubbles turn to ice crystals in subzero temperatures 0:38 Watch supermoon rise over Lake Tahoe on New Year’s Day 0:42 SLO County gets a dose of December rain 0:52 ‘King tides’ cause dramatic sea level shifts in SLO County Video Link Embed Code Facebook Twitter Email California’s snowpack is 22 percent of normal as of mid-February in 2018.
We all have a stake in saving them

Water supply resumed Monday evening in Kilifi and Mombasa after Kilifi County Government moved to pay a Sh21 million electricity bill. The one week water crisis was caused by Kenya Power’s decision to cut supply over a Sh42 million debt owed by Mombasa and Kilifi counties. The situation had threatened to worsen an upsurge of diseases in Mombasa – which is still recovering from recent chikungunya, dengue fever and cholera outbreaks – and negatively affect tourism prospects. Coast Water Services Board (CWSB) chair, Sureya Hersi, said Tuesday morning that pumping of water resumed following a meeting with Kilifi governor Amason Kingi at his office in Kilifi town on Monday. “Water is now running. Pumping resumed after power was reconnected at the Baricho water works after the governor announced his administration had initiated the payment of the outstanding electricity bill. We…

Water supply resumed Monday evening in Kilifi and Mombasa after Kilifi County Government moved to pay a Sh21 million electricity bill.
The one week water crisis was caused by Kenya Power’s decision to cut supply over a Sh42 million debt owed by Mombasa and Kilifi counties.
The situation had threatened to worsen an upsurge of diseases in Mombasa – which is still recovering from recent chikungunya, dengue fever and cholera outbreaks – and negatively affect tourism prospects.
“Water is now running.
Pumping resumed after power was reconnected at the Baricho water works after the governor announced his administration had initiated the payment of the outstanding electricity bill.
We expect to have full supply of water by Tuesday midday,” she said.
Mombasa Water Company will clear the outstanding bill of Sh21 million,” she said.
He said that no extra cost would be passed on to residents due to increased cost of power.
Special tariff The outstanding power bill had accrued after Kenya Power backdated bills after the utility firm realised it had been under-billing CWSB for over a year.
“I am happy that water has resumed and I can now go on with my normal activities.

As most of you know… we’re in a drought.
We have just come off the 6th driest December on record for Colorado Springs with January only yielding 1.7" of snow for the city.
The newest drought monitor, updated a few days ago on January 25th, shows that only 0.59% of the state is drought free.
That means nearly 100% of Colorado is experiencing at least some sort of abnormally dry condition to a drought!
The areas in the lighter tan, including Colorado Springs and Pueblo, are areas under a moderate drought.
The darker orange colors are areas under a severe drought, with that number now at 29.21%.
Here’s a look at what last year’s drought situation was at this time: Can you guess the difference because the ski resorts still can!
Last year we started seeing very large snows in the mountains and that kept nearly the entire western half of Colorado drought free.
Looking at Snowtel Data provided by the USDA, we are really hurting in the mountains this year for snow pack.
Snowtel data looks at the snow packs and shows where the river basic would be if all the snow melted.

WATERPROOF, La, (KNOE) – The Town of Waterproof is completely without water.
People say its been that way for weeks.
said Debra Cameron, owner of Stop N’ Shop in Waterproof.
Waterproof has been without water for almost a month.The mayor says cold weather started the problem.
Others get their water elsewhere.
"it is not the town council and the mayor’s fault, it’s the Tensas rural water fault," said Herbert Williams, Waterproof resident and former member of Waterproof’s board of Aldermen.
"We need to stop blaming the mayor because this is not the mayor’s fault.
She says no water.
I’ve lost two to three weeks of customers telling them, ‘I can cook for you today because I can’t wash my hands,’” said Cameron.
"We have elderly people down here suffering.

A drop in session has been organised by Severn Trent to be held today to give members of the public the opportunity to learn more about the project.
The company will be replacing old water pipes beneath the B4361 with brand new ones to help reduce the possibility of leaks and bursts happening in the future.
More than £600,000 will be invested in the work as part of a £7.8m scheme to replace almost 50km worth of water pipes in the south Shropshire area around Ludlow.
Dave Cottom, who is leading the project for Severn Trent, said: “We know the pipes in this area have been in place for a long time and we don’t want to be in a position where we regularly have to come out to fix leaks and bursts because we know there’s nothing worse for our customers than losing their water supply without warning.
“That’s why we’ve taken the decision to install brand new water pipes in Ludlow that will provide a really reliable water supply for generations to come and now we want to meet with as many local people as possible to share our plans and make them aware of where and when we’ll be working.” A community drop-in session will take place at the Village Hall at Richards Castle from 4pm to 7pm.
Work is scheduled to start on February 12.
Mr Cottom added: “We know how important it is for our customers to have access to fresh drinking water whenever they need it so this is really important work for the people of Ludlow.
“Engineers from our contractor Amey will work as quickly as possible to minimise disruption and we’ll keep access to homes and businesses clear as much as we can,” said Mr Cottom.
A fully signposted diversion will be in place.
The scheme forms part of Severn Trent’s commitment to investing in its infrastructure which will see the equivalent of £1,400 invested for every home and business it serves between 2015 and 2020.

It’s been almost two weeks since Jared Koestler and most of his neighbors could shower in their homes.
This was after the city found leaks in privately managed pipes, which froze during last week’s cold snap.
The owner has until Jan. 16 to let the city know its plan to fix the pipes.
For a day after last week’s blizzard, the faucets in Koestler’s house were “sputtering air,” he said.
Any home is at risk for burst pipes in extreme cold.
In County View, trailers sit on crawlspaces that are protected only by thick vinyl or lattice.
Virginia Beach has seen an ‘unprecedented’ number of burst pipes in the last week – anywhere from 100 to 150 calls a day, Cherry said.
The city can’t fix private pipes, but it can respond to the calls to shut off water, Cherry said.
At County View, issues with water pressure began when temperatures started falling into the teens.
The city plans to keep that water station as long as temperatures are above freezing and residents need it, according to Freed’s email.

CLAY COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT)- One thousand people have spent that past week without water after cold temperatures caused multiple pipes to crack in the city.
Phones have been ringing off the hook at Manchester City Hall with questions about when the water will be turned back on.
Deputy Clerk Elsie Woods who oversees the city’s waterworks says crews are working nonstop to fix the pipes and identify more leaks.
She is asking the public who currently has water to conserve it.
George Wagers and his family are one of the thousand or so affected.
"You can’t wash your clothes and stuff, can’t have clean clothes and take a clean shower every morning, or have water to cook with."
They are the only family in the Hector Community to be without water.
Local businesses have been on hand to help families like the Wagers to get water.
Thye spent much of Wednesday delivering water bottles to those without water.
Authorities say they still aren’t sure when the water will be turned back on but say anyone that is nee of bottled water to call 1-(606)-598-8411.