1998 Sydney water crisis
Warragamba Dam wall
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| Date | 21 July 1998 – 5 September 1998 |
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| Location | Greater Metropolitan Sydney |
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| Outcome | Reorganisation of water supply and water management functions and agencies via:
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| Inquiries | Sydney Water Inquiry (1998; under Peter McClellan QC) |
The 1998 Sydney water crisis involved the suspected contamination by the microscopic pathogens cryptosporidium and giardia of the water supply system of Greater Metropolitan Sydney, between July and September 1998.
Following routine water sampling and testing, over a series of weeks low level contaminates were found at Prospect, Potts Hill, Sydney Hospital, the NSW Art Gallery, Macquarie Street, Centennial Park, Surry Hills, Rhodes, Enfield, Palm Beach and water treatment facilities at Warragamba, Nepean, North Richmond, Orchard Hills, Woronora, Macarthur, the Illawarra and Prospect. The reliability of these test results was subsequently called into doubt. Precautionary "boil water" alerts were raised covering several suburban areas for the period of the crisis.
In response to the crisis, the Government of New South Wales established a Commission of Inquiry, chaired by jurist Peter McClellan QC as Commissioner. McClennan handed down his final report to the NSW Premier making ninety–one recommendations that led to the reorganisation of water supply and water management functions and agencies in Greater Metropolitan Sydney via the establishment of the Sydney Catchment Authority with responsibility for catchments, dams, and bulk supply reservoirs; while Sydney Water maintained management of water supply distribution, water treatment and sewerage, and stormwater management. Both the Chairman and Managing Director of Sydney Water stood down during and following the crisis.
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