An investigation is under way to determine how recycled water normally used for flushing toilets was connected to a Craigieburn secondary school’s drinking fountains.
Routine maintenance at the school last week by Yarra Valley Water (YVW) detected that class-A recycled water had been connected to the school’s drinking water supply.
YVW notified the school of the cross- connection last Tuesday and said it affected drinking fountains at the school’s years 5 to 12 campus.
Asked whether YVW had accepted responsibility for the mix-up, spokeswoman Mandy Hay said the water authority was still investigating.
Pipes were cleaned out last Wednesday and connected to a water tank on Thursday. They were reconnected to the correct water mains last Friday.
School principal Lino Pagano said students were provided with bottled water as soon as he was notified of the bungle.
He said the state government was working with the school to ensure the school community was provided with regular updates and health information.
YVW’s website states class-A recycled water is produced from water discharged from residential showers, toilets, sinks and washing machines.
“This water is treated to a standard specified for non-drinking use in domestic applications,” the website states.
“It is produced according to strict guidelines developed by EPA Victoria and the Department of Health. It is odourless, colourless and looks like drinking water.”
The water is suitable for washing clothes and watering lawns but not for drinking, cooking, food preparation, bathing, showering or filling pools.
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning spokesman Sean Burton said one call had been received from a member of the public concerned about the incident. They were not a parent at the school, he added.
No reports of illness
Mount Ridley College school council member and parent Mary-Anne Schmidt said she couldn’t fault the school’s response.
“I’m on the parents and friends association and on the school council … I haven’t heard of anyone being sick.”
The Craigieburn school is the second to be mistakenly connected to recycled water this year.
In April, St Peters College’s Cranbourne East campus found drinking taps had been connected to recycled water from a sewage treatment plant for more than a year.
