Australia - Official warning to Seqwater for fluoride overdosing incident

Official warning to Seqwater for fluoride overdosing incident
29 June 2009
QUEENSLAND Natural Resources Minister Stephen Robertson has issued an official warning to Seqwater over the company’s handling of the April fluoride overdosing incident.
The warning comes after Adjunct-Professor Mark Pascoe from the International Water Centre released an independent report into the North Pine Water Treatment plant.
The report found Seqwater had failed to properly manage fluoride levels, and the overdose was due to equipment failures, to which the company did not respond appropriately.
Professor Pascoe wrote that while the design of the fluoride dosing facility at North Pine was adequate, it did not adhere to the Water Fluoridation Regulation requirements
Seqwater also failed to immediately notify the Office of the Water Supply Regulator of equipment malfunctions at North Pine Water Treatment plant, which is a breach of the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008.
Linkwater, which took the water samples, was criticised for taking too long to report the incident.
According to Minister Robertson, Seqwater was found in numerous breaches of the Water Fluoridation Act 2008. Seqwater and Linkwater must report on a monthly basis to the State Government to ensure they are implementing the regulator’s directions and the recommendations relating to them from the Pascoe report.