Warragamba pollution threat

Andrew Clennell
June 27, 2007 – 4:15PM

Heavy rain over the past week has triggered a massive plume of pollution in Warragamba Dam, a main source of water for Sydney.

NSW Premier Morris Iemma announced in Question Time today that the State Government may have to shut off the drinking water supply from the dam and divert water from the Prospect Reservoir should the plume come near pipes where water goes into the main supply.

But Mr Iemma said extensive testing had so far found no pathogens in the Sydney water supply.

The potential threat echoes of the Sydney Water crisis of 1998.

At that time Sydneysiders had to stop drinking tap water after heavy rains filled the Warragamba Dam and giardia and cryptosporidium was located in the city’s water supply.