Australian town is urged to boil tap water amid fears it could be contaminated

Residents of an Australian town have been warned not to drink tap water over fears it has been contaminated.

Victoria’s Department of Health and South Gippsland Water told people in Inverloch, about two hours southeast of Melbourne, to boil water before drinking or only use bottled water.

The town’s 5,400 locals were given access to two community clean water water filling stations.

South Gippsland Water said tap water could be used for showering and bathing but care should be taken not to swallow any.

Residents in a Victorian town have been warned not to drink tap water over contamination fears (stock image) 

‘As a precaution, babies and young children should be sponge-bathed,’ South Gippsland Water said.

Dishes can be cleaned with tap water as long as they are dried well before using. 

‘Boil water for food preparation, cleaning fruit and vegetables, making ice and for preparing baby formula. Boil water for brushing teeth,’ Victoria Emergency said.

The water authority said it was working to fix the issue by flushing and cleaning the town’s water supply system, but did not elaborate on the cause.

South Gippsland Water has provided community drinking water facilities (pictured) 

‘If you have digested water, we recommend that you seek the advice of your GP if you develop gastro-like symptoms,’ it said.

‘Be watchful for symptoms which will typically develop from between one and ten days following ingestion of contaminated water.’ 

On Monday morning, South Gippsland Water said laboratory testing on the weekend found no contamination.

Two more days of clean tests are needed, however, so the boil water advisory is in place until at least Wednesday.

Inverloch is located abotu tow hours southeast of Melbourne and had about 5,400 residents