The poor water quality in the Hawker region near South Australia’s Flinders Ranges is reportedly deterring grey nomads from lingering in the area.
Caravan park operator John Sitters told the ABC that complaints from tourists about the water were extremely common.
“When they wash their hair in our water it doesn’t matter what you do with it, it’s like starch in their hair,” he told the ABC.
Councillor Ronald Daniel told the national broadcaster that a lack of rainwater meant tourists minimised their stays and businesses faced growth problems.
“It’s stopping the likes of caravan parks and motels from getting any bigger because they’ve got to replace hot water systems about every 12 months, the water is that bad,” he said. “The garages have to knock people back from filling up their 20-litre containers because they haven’t had enough water themselves and the water that’s supplied nobody in the town drinks it – we advise tourists not to drink it.”
A spokesperson from SA Water said the water meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
“SA Water recognises that some members of the community may find the taste of the water unpalatable because of salinity,” an SA Water spokesperson said. “However the water is safe to drink.”
Plans for an $8.1 million desalination facility for Hawker, were announced last year but there is already frustration at the delays in the process.
The mayor of the Flinders Ranges Council (FRC), Peter Slattery, said the funds were allocated because the low level quality of potable water in the area.
“Water quality at Hawker is very poor,” Mr Slattery said. “It’s derived from a local bore and is quite heavily mineralised.”
What are your views on the taste of the water in Hawker? Does local water quality affect your trip planning and the duration of your stay in certain areas? Where else has poor water quality? How much water do you carry with you? Email us here with your views on this story.
