The town water supply has been manually switched to the old system, sourced from the Pages River infiltration gallery, stored and chlorinated before entering the network, and coming out of taps.

After completion of the pipeline, this infrastructure was kept in place as a back-up if required.

The enormous storage tanks along the pipeline also serve as a back up, which is why the boil water alert came later to Murrurundi.

WHAT ACTIONS SHOULD SCONE AND ABERDEEN RESIDENTS TAKE?

Aberdeen and Scone residents are advised to continue to boil water for drinking and food preparation, until further notice.

Residents should not to be alarmed - this alert to boil all drinking water is a proactive and preventative measure to manage the risk and ensure the safety of residents.

Council staff are flushing the network including reservoirs, to remove 'dirty' water from the system. You may see this water flowing down gutters in some areas.

Water used for drinking or food preparation should be brought to a rolling boil to make it safe. Kettles with automatic shut off switches can do this. Water should then be allowed to cool and stored in a clean container with a lid and refrigerated.

Bottled water or cool boiled water should be used for drinking, washing uncooked food (e.g. salad vegetables and fruit), making ice, cleaning teeth, gargling and pet's drinking water.

Dishes should be washed in hot soapy water or in a dishwasher. Children should take bottled water or cool boiled water to school.

The NSW Health website also includes special considerations for:

HOW HAS IT HAPPENED?

Recent heavy rainfall in the Glenbawn catchment has caused water quality issues - turbidity or fine particles - in the supply system, creating a risk to the water for human consumption.

This does not mean the water is unsafe - only that the risk of it being unsafe is too high.

Based on NSW Health advice, Upper Hunter Shire Council have issued a boiled water alert.

Further information will be provided by council when available.