Monday, August 5, 2013

Spike in fluoride concentration levels prompts temporary shutdown at Mt Crosby water treatment plant


BRISBANE's water supply will remain fluoride free until later on Tuesday or Wednesday after a problem at the Mt Crosby water treatment plant on Friday night.
Seawater found fluoride levels in one reservoir had jumped to double their normal concentration, prompting an immediate shutdown of the fluoride plant.
The Queensland Water Supply Regulator was notified of the increased levels and advised the disruption did not pose a health risk, said an Seqwater spokesman.
He said the elevated level of fluoride - as much as 1.7mg a litre - did not make it into drinking supplies.
"We thought we'd be able to bring the plant back online over the weekend but our guys are still working to figure out what triggered that spike early Friday night," he said.
Under the Water Fluoridation Regulation 2008, Seqwater is required to produce fluoridated water of between 0.7mg/L and 0.9mg/L averaged over a quarter.

The spokesman said Seqwater was still confident the target rate would be achieved during the July-September quarter.
Fluoride was added to Queensland's water supply under the previous Labor Government in 2008-09 but last year the Newman Government legislated to allow councils to decide whether to maintain fluoridation.
LNP backbencher and health campaigner Jason Woodforth has lobbied vigorously to have fluoride removed from water supplies and on Monday expressed his deep concern about Friday night's incident.
"Let's call fluoride for what it is. It's a toxic waste product," said Mr Woodforth.
His views have been opposed by others in the Newman Government including Health Minister Lawrence Springborg and Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek, a former dentist.
The Seqwater spokesman said they were confident of getting the fluoride plant at Mt Crosby back online by later on Tuesday or Wednesday.
"We won't put it back online until we know exactly what's occurred," he said.

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