Putrid smelling bore water being used by neighbours

horsome on 06/11/2016 - 17:02

Hello everyone,

I am calling on the wisdom that is prevalent in the Ozbargain community.

I live in an outer metro seaside suburb and for some reason a few of the residents here (ourselves included) have access to bore water. Now the water from this bore gives off quite a stench, somewhat like from a water treatment plant (no such facility is near us).

This suburb was an understated area with a lot of land and quarter acre blocks. There are a few elderly who have been here forever and take advantage of the bore water. It's seems like it was quite the norm to do so. However now with subdivisions and developments it is now well populated suburb.

We have experienced two summers of this as new neighbours but have had quite enough as it is very offensive and can ruin a nice sunny afternoon in the back yard and at times have to close the house up as the smell wafts down the street or over the back of the house from neighbours whose sense of smell has been rendered ineffective.

I am asking if anyone knows if any courses of action to get this bore water banned from use, it is hard to believe it is suitable for use in a suburban environment. The suburb is up and coming and would not be surprised that no one has bothered to raise this as an environmental issue before (I live in South Australia after all).

Any help is much appreciated.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • try2bhelpful on 06/11/2016 - 17:19
    +1

    First port of call should be the council and tell them there is something wrong with the bore water. Get them to investigate. Many years ago I worked for the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission and we used to test this sort of water all the time. The water may be contaminated so it should be checked out.

    • horsome on 06/11/2016 - 17:25

      Thanks, will get on to them, we are hooked up too so will be happy to provide some samples.

      • try2bhelpful on 06/11/2016 - 17:30

        Best of Luck with this. I worked in the "clean water" section but we still came across tanks contaminated by dead animals, seepage from septic tanks, etc. Always worth making sure your water is OK.

  • bargainslut on 06/11/2016 - 17:27
    +5

    "I am calling on the wisdom that is prevalent in the Ozbargain community."

    When did this happen?:)

    • PJC on 06/11/2016 - 18:22
      +1

      Now that you're here, of course!

      • bargainslut on 06/11/2016 - 22:37
        +1

        No, it's all about you darling PJC, kissxx

  • Baebs on 06/11/2016 - 17:47
    +4

    As a friendly gesture, make them some lemonade with it :)

    • Kangal on 06/11/2016 - 18:36

      But has life given them lemons?

      • scrimshaw on 06/11/2016 - 18:38
        +2

        Yes, the lemons are contaminated and are smelly too.

      • Baebs on 06/11/2016 - 18:40

        Sounds like it for op

  • [Deactivated] on 06/11/2016 - 18:08
    +1

    dont live near botnay do you??

    you can thank orica for that mess over there.

    • horsome on 06/11/2016 - 20:32

      Nah SA,but some old industry in area.

  • Euphemistic on 06/11/2016 - 18:11
    +1

    We used to live in Perth. It was just the way it was. Still remember the brown stains all over the houses and driveways.

    No idea what you can do about it if it is natural water. I'd rather they used that than waste drinking water on the yard.

    • iseenya on 06/11/2016 - 19:53

      "It was just the way it was"

      And still is :-(

    • horsome on 06/11/2016 - 20:55

      I'm sure there is something wrong with this water, it's possibly has a bit of salt content as we are virtually surrounded by the sea on a peninsula, the gardens and lawns of these residents are not particularly lush or attractive.

      Pertains very much to old way of doing things, doesn't necessarily mean it's right or safe for that matter. It's an old but not prestigious area but will improve as more accessible and affordable, if I don't kick up a stink (pun intended) someone will eventually, so no point waiting through a few stinky summers.

  • oscargamer on 06/11/2016 - 20:05

    can't help but wonder if this is actually an issue

    for the 10% (roughly 800 million) of the planet's population that don't even have access to potable water, i imagine that they would love to live somewhere where they worry about the neighbours watering their lilies with smelly bore water…..

  • whooah1979 on 06/11/2016 - 20:29
    +1

    There are a few elderly who have been here forever and take advantage of the bore water.

    this is free water. taking this away from these residents is just plain rude.

    • horsome on 06/11/2016 - 20:40
      +2

      Ha! If only you could smell it, then you'll realise what is rude.

      The worst is the one on the corner on my street to the main road. Nothing like gagging first thing in the morning on the way to work. Seriously it smells very wrong.

      I have this "free" water too and have been told it's no different, so would rather use mains water.

      • Solarlux on 07/11/2016 - 10:53
        +1

        My 80+father in law can't smell anything unless it is shoved up his nose so his BO is deplorable… So why don't you and your partner stop using deodorant, eventually you won't smell your selves and anything else. It is true that you won't taste either but what price do you want to pay for not smelling the stench.
        BTW if you live where I think you live then there used to be a sulphur plant on the other side of the Port River and the whole area is really just a reclaimed swamp so who knows what lurks below.:-P

  • [Deactivated] on 06/11/2016 - 22:09
    +1

    Should take a sample and get it tested. Maybe call the council and talk to them about it.

  • Tiller76 on 07/11/2016 - 10:27

    If it is in the Charles Sturt Council area, pretty sure bore water was not meant to be used atm due to the contamination issue within Hindmarsh.As someone suggested earlier, go to the council.

  • brendanheyu on 07/11/2016 - 14:02

    So hold up - the old folks (who are likely to be pensioners) are watering their garden - the same way they have been doing so for years, and now that a new mob turn up you're saying it should be banned because you find it unacceptable?

    I love this peremptory attitude we see today. So ignorant.

    Have you spoken to them, or do you plan to just swoop in from on high? What concessions have you considering offering to them?

    And before you bleet on again just how terrible it is, I've smelt bore water - and yes sometimes they are sulfurous due to bacteria colonies doing what they do. But here's the cinch…

    You have arrived after this scenario started, so as the old saying goes - Caveat Emptor!

  • anthem29 on 07/11/2016 - 14:17

    Suck it up princess.

  • ricmac on 07/11/2016 - 16:32

    If your hair and teeth start falling out, call Erin Brockovich, could be worth millions to you.(posthumously)

  • Adz81 on 07/11/2016 - 16:50
    +2

    This suburb was an understated area with a lot of land and quarter acre blocks. There are a few elderly who have been here forever and take advantage of the bore water. It's seems like it was quite the norm to do so. However now with subdivisions and developments it is now well populated suburb.

    Kinda reads like: How dare these elderly folks interfere with my plans and dreams of having gotten in on the next BIG thing just before it's gentrified beyond all recognition?!? Those damn elderly and their stinking gardens, watered with stinking bore water. Isn't there a way we could like, just… Stop all of the old people from doing what they've always done, in their own gardens… It's not that I don't want them living near me, I just would rather they weren't able to do so with the happiness that their garden brings into their life. Besides, I got in complaining early, before all of the others have moved in and subdivided away into McMansions, so I'm really doing everyone a favour. Especially me, I've had enough of their stinking gardens. Oh, and I'm not really doing it for the elderly either.
    (profanity) the elderly.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join