NSW city goes a week without drinkable water after floods cause contamination

Dubbo council issued a boil-water alert last week after the city’s water quality dropped below safe drinking levels. Photograph: Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images

Water in Dubbo and surrounding towns has been undrinkable for nearly a week as local authorities work to “climate-proof” against the future contamination of catchments.

After the Little River swelled during the deluge of rain, animal faeces and carcasses were flushed into the catchment.