Flushing problem hits St George residents

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St George residents are encountering trouble with their toilets due to problems with the town’s flushing water system.

Mayor Kenneth Bascome yesterday said that issues with the system first cropped up four or five days ago. While Corporation staff, working with Belco, have looked at the system’s pump, the source of the problem has not been identified.

“At this stage we are working full out to bring it back on line but we have no idea when it will be,” Mr Bascome said.

“Those that live down low haven’t had the problems because of gravity, but people in the back of town haven’t been able to get flushing water.

“Right now we are advising people who are having problems to contact Government or Watlington Water Works to see if they can have water pumped to their homes. It’s a bit expensive, but at this stage it’s all we can suggest.”

One affected St George resident said that the lack of flushing water was awkward, but the situation overall has improved from past years when breakdowns were more common.

“At one time, breakdowns were frequent, and most often seemed to occur just before the weekend, or public holidays,” the resident said. “But the Corporation appointed a new supervisor of works, a young guy called Shannon Outerbridge. He's superb. He did a lot of work on the system when he first took over.

“Now, breakdowns happen very seldom. His crew knows what they're doing, and most of the time they make short work of it. When it does go on for longer, as it's doing at the moment, they turn the water on for a couple of hours overnight, if they can, so that people aren't humbugged when they're trying to get to work.

“Yes, it's awkward not to have water in the toilet, but I'm not complaining. I know the problem's in good hands.”

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