North East Water, following consultation with the Department of Health, advises customers in Wodonga, Bandiana, Leneva, Baranduda, Barnawartha, Bonegilla, Chiltern, Ebden, Kiewa, Killara, Springhurst, Tangambalanga and Logic Centre to boil drinking water until further notice.

This precautionary advice has been issued following potential contamination from rainwater that entered a treated water storage tank in Wodonga. The rainwater is believed to have entered the tank during Sunday’s heavy rainfall event.

Testing is now underway, and results from this laboratory sampling are expected within 24 hours. These results will inform our next steps including if the advisory will be lifted or continued.

Where possible, customers should bring water to a rolling boil before being used by heating the water until a continuous and rapid stream of air-bubbles is produced from the bottom of a pan or kettle. Kettles with automatic cut-off switches are suitable. Variable temperature kettles should be set to boil.

After heating, water must be allowed to cool before using it, and be stored in a clean, closed container for later use. Care should be taken to avoid scalding injuries especially around children.

Boiled water can be used for:

• Drinking
• Preparing beverages
• Washing and preparing food
• Preparing baby formula
• Brushing teeth
• Making ice.

Unboiled water can be used for washing your hands, showering and bathing, flushing toilets, washing dishes (ensure dry before use) and clothes and garden watering. Ensure water is not ingested whilst bathing.

Consumption of unboiled water can cause gastro-like symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms, please contact your GP and inform your GP of this advisory.

All mains water in the affected area is impacted by this issue, including.

• Household taps
• Garden taps
• Drinking bubblers
• Standpipes

Due to the array of filters available and varying quality and condition of filters, we advise that all drinking water be boiled until further notice.

The potential contamination was due to rainwater entering a treated water tank. Most animals are less susceptible to untreated water (drinking from puddles, rivers, dams) but we still advise to boil all tap water for your pets where possible.

Yes.

Where possible, customers should bring water to a rolling boil before being used, by heating the water until a continuous and rapid stream of air-bubbles is produced from the bottom of a pan or kettle. Kettles with automatic cut-off switches are suitable. Variable temperature kettles should be set to boil.

After heating, water must be allowed to cool before using it, and be stored in a clean, closed container for later use.

The potential contamination was due to rainwater entering a treated water tank, lab testing is currently underway to determine if and what contamination there may be. If you are feeling unwell, please contact your GP and inform your GP of this advisory.

All water to be consumed will require boiling first until notified otherwise. All ice cubes created in the last 48 hours should be disposed of and the plumbed system should not be used until the advisory is lifted.

While both Albury and Wodonga source their drinking water from the Murray River, the incident was isolated to a Treated Water Storage Tank supplying only the Victorian townships of Wodonga and surrounds. There is no risk to Albury or other NSW townships.

No, Rutherglen has its own independent water supply to the one potentially affected.

The process of evaporation cools the air, but the water itself isn't aerosolized into a drinkable mist; the air coming out is safe to breathe.

We are awaiting lab test results and will provide updates as soon as information is available.

The intensity of Sunday's storm caused stormwater runoff from the surrounding hillside to overwhelm a drainage system near our tank. This will now be reviewed to ensure it will not happen again. At this stage, this is a precautionary advisory message to ensure the safety of our customers. We are still awaiting lab results to determine if any contamination has occurred.

We are still awaiting lab results to confirm if any contamination has occurred from Sunday evenings storm that may have potentially entered the reticulation system in the past 24 hours. This is a precautionary advisory notice until we can confirm the drinking water quality within the system.

SMS messages have been sent to all customers for whom we have mobile numbers linked to their billing accounts. Please note that not all customers have provided these details. If you did not receive a text message and believe you should have, please contact our Customer Service team on 1300 361 633 during business hours.

Unboiled water can be used for washing dishes (ensure dry before use) and clothes.

Please refer to the Vic Health website for more details.