Residents of 88 Melbourne suburbs have been warned not to drink their tap water after damage caused by overnight storms led to undisinfected water from Silvan Dam entering the Yarra Valley Water supply system.
Suburbs in the City of Whittlesea are among those on the list of affected suburbs, including Doreen, Epping, Lalor, Mernda, Mill Park, South Morang, Thomastown, Wollert and Yarrambat. Craigieburn is also affected.
Power outages overnight caused the undisinfected water to enter the water supply system. Power has since been restored and the initial issue addressed, but undisinfected water is still within some areas.
Yarra Valley Water is working with the Department of Health and Human Services and, as a precautionary measure, a boil water advisory is being issued until the issue is resolved.
Yarra Valley Water is working with Melbourne Water, who owns and manages Silvan Dam, to resolve the issue and expects the water supply to be back to normal later today.
Yarra Valley Water advised customers in the listed areas to bring water to a rolling boil and allow it to cool before drinking, preparing beverages, washing and preparing food, preparing baby formula, brushing teeth and making ice, until further notice.
Water can still be used for showers, baths, toilets, gardens, and washing hands, dishes and clothes before it is boiled.
Consuming contaminated water may cause gastro-like symptoms and customers have been urged to contact their doctor if they experience these symptoms.
About 250,000 households are estimated to be affected by the issue.
