North East Water

North East Water is using chlorine to remove bacteria detected in Mt Beauty's treated water basin.

The Corporation today began applying a small dose of chlorine to the basin, which is located south of the Mt Beauty township.

Operations Manager, Fiona Smith, said the dosing would likely continue until early in the New Year, depending on testing results.

"This is a necessary precautionary measure, and one we anticipate will maintain compliance with safe drinking water limits while causing a minimum of disruption to the community," she said.

"Because this basin only supplies Mt Beauty, and not Tawonga and Tawonga South, we felt it was more appropriate to treat this issue at the source, rather than issue a Boil Water Notice, especially with Christmas around the corner."

"We're confident that this approach will enable the system to return to normal far more quickly than the process of implementing and subsequently lifting a Boil Water Notice."

Ms Smith said residents may experience some taste and odour issues as a result of the dosing, with the possibility of periodic dirty water.

"This solution is likely to dislodge some biological material that naturally builds up in the pipework, causing some discolouration of the water," she said.

"In most cases this will run clear after a short time, but if people are concerned, they can contact us."

Ms Smith said North East Water would continually monitor the basin over the Christmas period.

The Corporation is currently into the design phase of a project to upgrade the Mt Beauty water treatment plant and clear water storage.

Meanwhile, residents in Myrtleford and Whitfield are being reminded that Boil Water Notices are currently in place in their towns.

Myrtleford has a seasonal notice in place that applies over the warmer months of the year, while Whitfield is still feeling the effects of high turbidity in Musk Gully Creek, caused by recent rainfall.