Auditor-General’s report finds contaminated water supply in quarter of WA’s remote Aboriginal communities

The water supplies of 37 remote Aboriginal communities in WA are contaminated by toxic pollutants, a new audit has revealed. The damning Auditor-General’s report — tabled in Parliament yesterday — found “health risks” in nearly a quarter of the the State’s 143 remote Indigenous communities. These risks were posed by nasty toxins like uranium, nitrates, and E Coli. “Water ... tested positive for contaminants in 37 communities in the 2 year period to 2019-20,” reads Auditor General Caroline Spencer’s report. “A further 51 communities were not tested for water quality until late 2019, 4 years after they were included [in the last water quality audit.] “This exposed these communities to the risk of illness from chemical and biological contamination.” The report chastises the Department of Communities — the department responsible for the provision of these services — on their communication of possible risks. In late 2019, the Department found fluoride and uranium in the water in Kimberly community Crocodile Hole. However, they did not issue the community a “no drink” notice for nine more months. However, the report notes “improvement” since the 2015 services audit, which found that 84 remote communities were not receiving essential services. “Water quality has improved in 38 communities (since 2015) and wastewater is now monitored in line with contracts,” the report notes. Since 2015, the management of water services has been overhauled. The Commonwealth previously serviced many of these communities, but the state government has since taken over 51 communities previously run by the Commonwealth. The Department of Communities accepted the report’s recommendations and will increase water testing and infrastructure in remote communities.