00:00 Less than an hour from Canberra, residents of the Yass Valley don't have access to safe drinking water.
00:08 My husband joked that it was like being in a third world country right next to the nation's capital.
00:14 It's a main town and they should have water, they should have had water years ago.
00:18 It's an ongoing problem. Almost every time there's heavy rain and there's no long term solution in place, leaving local businesses out of pocket.
00:27 Our expenses have increased by anywhere between $50 to $150 per day due to the fact that we're now buying bottled water, bags of ice and having to buy soft drink cases as well.
00:39 But the Yass Valley Council claims it's not their place to foot that bill.
00:43 No, we don't provide rebates. Everybody who's in business as well also has a responsibility of ensuring that they're not causing a problem for their customers.
00:54 Forcing businesses like the local pub to navigate the murky waters alone.
00:59 I think that's a bit of a cop out, considering that having small businesses in town, places like the pub, this is our livelihood.
01:09 This town has been plagued by water issues for decades. The water treatment plant, built in the 1930s, hasn't been upgraded in more than 30 years.
01:18 To fix the problem long term, Yass Valley will require more funding from the NSW and federal governments.
01:24 If we had to upgrade the treatment plant and try to find $17, $18 million for the project, that would then go on to the ratepayers.
01:35 This is what the water here looks like today. And it's susceptibly clear.
01:39 It explains why some people are still drinking this water, unaware of a boil water alert seven days in.
01:45 The council says no pathogens have been found in the water, but they're not going to test for bacteria, leaving doctors concerned.
01:52 I would think that testing the water as extensively as possible, again in the interests of public safety, would be the sensible way to go.
01:59 As for when tap water may be safe enough to drink again, there's no real clarity.
02:04 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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