Lismore City Council has warned Nimbin residents to boil water for the immediate future because of problems with water treatment, meaning the drinking water in the village is unsafe.

Water used for drinking or food preparation should be brought to a rolling boil to make it safe. Kettles with automatic shut-off switches can do this.

Water should then be allowed to cool and stored in a clean container with a lid and refrigerated.

Everyone, particularly people caring for young children, should be careful to avoid scalding when you are heating and then cooling the water.

Bottled water or cool boiled water should be used for drinking, washing uncooked food (for example, salad vegetables and fruit), making ice, cleaning teeth, gargling and pets’ drinking water.

Dishes should be washed in hot, soapy water or in a dishwasher.

Children should take bottled water or cool boiled water to school.

Tap water is safe for bathing. There is a potential risk if water is swallowed during washing and bathing. Parents and carers could consider a sponge bath for children as an alternative.

Lismore City Council is working to fix the problem.

This advice should be followed until further notice. Note that this boil water alert is in addition to the ongoing boil water alert in the Nimbin Rural system.