Lead found in water in NT remote community

Borroloola residents have been issued a warning after routine testing found lead and manganese in the water supply.

Notices went up telling Garawa residents not to drink, cook, or brush their teeth with tap water. Source: AAP

Notices have gone up telling residents in the Garawa camps not to drink, cook, or brush their teeth with tap water.

The Northern Territory’s Department of Health has issued "precautionary advice" to the Borroloola community after routine testing by the Power and Water Corporation (PWC) returned elevated levels of lead and manganese.

The health department said an interim water tanker will be organised and located in the community as alternative water source and has advised that bottled water also be used.

It labelled the contamination a “short-term problem”, as the bore itself does not contain elevated levels of lead and manganese, and said PWC is investigating.

In recent years, locals have feared environmental contamination from Glencore's McArthur River lead and zinc mine.

One resident has told the ABC the community wants the health department to offer blood testing to make sure children have not been exposed to unsafe levels.

The Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network has called for the resignation of Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner in response to the contamination.

It comes just days after the moratorium on fracking was lifted in the Northern Territory.

“In light of this contamination Michael Gunner’s decision to allow fracking companies to frack over half of the NT, destroying land, water, and our climate is a disgrace and he must resign immediately," Garawa woman and Seed Campaigns Director Nicole Hutton said.