Was just on an other forum, and read this story - what a disaster! Many condolences to the family of the young man who died. apparently some of the story was on Macca this morning.
Happywanderer said
12:15 PM Jun 12, 2011
That is terrible. Had seen the news headlines about it earlier on TV but hadn't heard or read the atricle until now. Thanks for that pete. So the arsenic must leach out of the soil or rock to get into the water like that??
Vic said
12:39 PM Jun 12, 2011
Thanks for that Pete, last year we stayed at the "other" caravan park right in town in Winton, Qld, only heard about how good the other was later (Beth has a post on here about the "good" one).
Was filling up the jug with water on the site, but it smelt like battery acid, so tipped it out again. Asked a permanent about it and he said it was full of sulphur and not to drink it. He showed me where he had poured some on the ground and there was a white patch around the edge of it.
The shower water also stank of sulphur and so did my body after it, I had showered earlier. Luckily had enough water on board to at least drink safely and container wash. Someone at the visitor centre told me to stay at the "good" park on the edge of town next time as they had treated water. The good one was a Top Tourist I think.
The lousy park was in the main street and I think was called the "Pelican" or similar name.
-- Edited by Vic on Sunday 12th of June 2011 12:41:14 PM
BobnBev said
02:34 PM Jun 12, 2011
They have signs in the west around mines"dont drink the water" and whats in it ect.. the water looks ok. but wouldnt even use it to wash in.. Like your avatar Vic , all the ugly guys get the good looking girls...!!
Pejay said
03:44 PM Jun 12, 2011
Hmm, heard this on Macca this morning as well, and our thoughts go to the young man's family as well.
With regards to the water at Winton, it does smell, but it is not arsenic or sulphur, but is bore water from the Atesian Basin well below ground, hence the smell etc. - and we have been led to believe, it is safe to drink!
jimricho said
05:48 PM Jun 12, 2011
Arsenic was used extensively in gold mining and could have leached into the water from old tailings dams. Gold mining did take place in the Pine River/Adelaide River area in days gone by. However until it is thoroughly investigated we can only speculate on the cause of this tragedy.
Re water in the outback (and not so outback) generally, one should check if it's potable before filling tanks, consuming it, cleaning teeth, adding to whisky (Sassenach!) etc. There was a recent conversation here about that.
-- Edited by jimricho on Sunday 12th of June 2011 05:49:12 PM
Pejay said
04:58 PM Jun 13, 2011
You're right Jimricho, we have a filter on our tap in the van, and no matter where we are - always use the filter - jut to be sure, to be sure - been plonking!!!
-- Edited by Pejay on Monday 13th of June 2011 04:58:58 PM
jimricho said
05:27 PM Jun 13, 2011
Be aware that a filter may not remove dissolved minerals. I've heard that normal filters do not remove fluoride but don't know about arsenic, not that you'd want to remove fluoride unless you believe some of the more bizarre conspiracy theories.
Maybe the filter manufacturer or someone with a good background in chemistry can clarify this.
Vic said
06:00 PM Jun 13, 2011
BobnBev wrote:
They have signs in the west around mines"dont drink the water" and whats in it ect.. the water looks ok. but wouldnt even use it to wash in.. Like your avatar Vic , all the ugly guys get the good looking girls...!!
Yes, my son looks like me too as you can see, definitely hasn't got his mothers looks........I was feeling affectionate that day, my wife thought I was joking but I was dead serious.....
PS: I'd better change the pic back to that otherwise others will wonder what the heck we are talking about !!
I don't know what was in the Winton water, but it smelt just like battery acid, this was on a caravan bay tap which was not coloured and had no warning signs on it. Unfortunately the caretaker was not on site and no info available on the water other than from another camper.
-- Edited by Vic on Monday 13th of June 2011 06:06:16 PM
Reported on the A.B.C.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/12/3241816.htm?section=justin
So the arsenic must leach out of the soil or rock to get into the water like that??
Thanks for that Pete, last year we stayed at the "other" caravan park right in town in Winton, Qld, only heard about how good the other was later (Beth has a post on here about the "good" one).
Was filling up the jug with water on the site, but it smelt like battery acid, so tipped it out again. Asked a permanent about it and he said it was full of sulphur and not to drink it. He showed me where he had poured some on the ground and there was a white patch around the edge of it.
The shower water also stank of sulphur and so did my body after it, I had showered earlier. Luckily had enough water on board to at least drink safely and container wash. Someone at the visitor centre told me to stay at the "good" park on the edge of town next time as they had treated water. The good one was a Top Tourist I think.
The lousy park was in the main street and I think was called the "Pelican" or similar name.
-- Edited by Vic on Sunday 12th of June 2011 12:41:14 PM
Like your avatar Vic , all the ugly guys get the good looking girls...!!
With regards to the water at Winton, it does smell, but it is not arsenic or sulphur, but is bore water from the Atesian Basin well below ground, hence the smell etc. - and we have been led to believe, it is safe to drink!
Arsenic was used extensively in gold mining and could have leached into the water from old tailings dams. Gold mining did take place in the Pine River/Adelaide River area in days gone by. However until it is thoroughly investigated we can only speculate on the cause of this tragedy.
Re water in the outback (and not so outback) generally, one should check if it's potable before filling tanks, consuming it, cleaning teeth, adding to whisky (Sassenach!) etc. There was a recent conversation here about that.
-- Edited by jimricho on Sunday 12th of June 2011 05:49:12 PM
You're right Jimricho, we have a filter on our tap in the van, and no matter where we are - always use the filter - jut to be sure, to be sure - been plonking!!!
-- Edited by Pejay on Monday 13th of June 2011 04:58:58 PM
Be aware that a filter may not remove dissolved minerals. I've heard that normal filters do not remove fluoride but don't know about arsenic, not that you'd want to remove fluoride unless you believe some of the more bizarre conspiracy theories.
Maybe the filter manufacturer or someone with a good background in chemistry can clarify this.
-- Edited by Vic on Monday 13th of June 2011 06:06:16 PM