Something in the water

Elly Steel refuses to drink Rockhampton water after she found what she believes is a residue of yellow sulphur and coal dust inside her filtered tap water.

Sharyn Oneill

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THERE'S something in the water according to Elly Steel.

It may not be a monster shark, but the Rockhampton woman believes it could be just as life-threatening.

Mrs Steel will only drink spring water and San Pellegrino after discovering a thin yellow-green residue in her tap water filter three days ago.

She believes it could be yellow sulphur and coal dust from the Fitzroy River.

Despite the Department of Environment and Resource Management's reassurance no mines are currently discharging into the Fitzroy catchment, Mrs Steel said she believes the Ensham and Mt Morgan mines are behind the horrible smelling residue.

She said she believes they are still discharging into the water.

Mrs Steel's husband, Bill, said he couldn't even offer his friend of cup of tea for fear he would poison him.

"I'm jumping up and down because I've got cancer and thyroid problems and I have to drink it," Mrs Steel said.

She is worried Rockhampton water could be contributing to her illnesses.

For more than 20 years the Steels have been drinking tap water from the Fitzroy River, five of those they have spent using their $490 water filter.

Doug Annetts provides the replacement water filters for the Steels and about 5000 other Central Queenslanders.

He said the problem could not come from the filter if it was changed every six months, as the Steels say they do.

Rockhampton Regional Council yesterday said after receiving Mrs Steel's call, Fitzroy River Water logged a job to dispatch a crew to flush the lines in the area.

Council said they would call Mrs Steel to discuss whether that may have been the issue.