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[ Upcoming Events ](https://www.awa.asn.au/upcoming-events) - [ Events Calendar ](https://www.awa.asn.au/national-events-calendar) - [ Ozwater ](https://www.awa.asn.au/events/ozwater) - [ Photo Gallery ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/133291504@N03/albums) - [ Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards) Show submenu for Awards ![Plus icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-menu-plus-icon.svg) ![Plus icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-menu-minus-icon.svg) - [ Awards Overview ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards) - [ Individual Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards-individual) - [ Chris Davis AM Fellowship ](https://www.awa.asn.au/chris-davis-am-fellowship) - [ Guy Parker Award ](https://www.awa.asn.au/guy-parker-award) - [ Organisation Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards-organisation) - [ Student Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/student-awards) - [ Australian Stockholm Junior Water Prize ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards/student-awards/asjwp) - 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The microscopic parasite was found at levels of 2.0 oocysts/10L in a sample tested by Cairns Regional Council's water laboratory. Water quality has deteriorated during the past two years, according to Thursday Island resident Rita Kebisu. "There's a dirty colour to the water … people are getting sick [with] stomach bugs. We seem to be going backwards into third-world standards when we still need to boil our water," Kebisu told [ABC Online](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-19/cryptosporidium-parasites-detected-in-torres-strait-water/10002514). Eight cases of cryptosporidiosis have been reported in the Torres and Cape region in 2018, an increase from two cases last year, while there were 23 cases in 2016. The Queensland Government pledged $12 million in this year's budget for a series of projects to deliver improved water quality on the islands. Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Enstch said tackling infectious parasites in the water network will be no small feat. "All of the system is going to need to be somehow flushed – this is not a small job," he said. Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchcliffe said that while works are being planned, a resident rebate for bottled water is unlikely. "There's no requirement to use bottled water. There are other solutions which people are advised about, on a regular basis, about boiling water," Hinchcliffe said. "That's not an unusual thing when these unfortunate circumstances occur." However, local business owners are now joining the protest with concerns the drinking water concerns will impact on the communities’ tourism. "Water filters, they're $80 each, plus the paper filters are $26, and you're changing them monthly," local business owner Raphael Gushtaspi said. "Normally you could get a year out of a high-micron canister filter and within four months I've got to change it. That's how much it clogs up now." Gushtaspi said the water crisis is also creating workplace health and safety issues for his staff. "Customers want water, we want water to wash up, to clean, and we don't want to run the risk of making anyone sick," he said. **Related podcast:** https://omny.fm/shows/australianwater/jennine-finlayson-on-safe-and-sustainable-drinking [ Public Health ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/public-health) [ Boil Alerts ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/boil-alerts) [ Podcasts ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/podcasts) [ Drinking Water ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/drinking-water) [ Contamination ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/contamination) [ Water Quality ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/water-quality) Share [![email icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-email.svg "email icon") ](mailto:?subject=Torres%20Strait%20Island%20water%20concerns%20spike%20amid%20contamination&body=Check%20out%20https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/public-health/torres-strait-island-water-concerns-spike-amid-contamination) [![facebook-icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-facebook.svg "facebook icon") ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/public-health/torres-strait-island-water-concerns-spike-amid-contamination) [![LinkedIn icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-linkedin.svg "LinkedIn icon") ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/public-health/torres-strait-island-water-concerns-spike-amid-contamination) [![Twitter icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-twitter.svg "Twitter icon") ](https://twitter.com/home?status=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/public-health/torres-strait-island-water-concerns-spike-amid-contamination) ## RELATED NEWS ### [ Queensland council takes silver at world water awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/queensland-council-takes-silver-at-world-water-awards) Water Source Australia can once again lay claim to the world’s second best tasting tap water, with Queensland’s Mackay Regional Council (MRC)… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/queensland-council-takes-silver-at-world-water-awards) ### [ $70 million to build Queensland regions ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/70-million-build-queensland-regions) Cecilia Harris Queensland’s latest budget will support regional councils to improve water supply and security with $70 million committed to a new… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/70-million-build-queensland-regions) ### [ First Nations families must not be the last to access clean, safe, disease-free drinking water. You can support Engineers Without Borders Australia’s Engineering On Country appeal this giving season ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/first-nations-families-must-not-be-the-last-to-access-clean-safe-disease-free-drinking-water.-you-can-support) Water Source Access to safe and reliable water is a basic human right, and essential for health and quality of life, and is the focus of… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/first-nations-families-must-not-be-the-last-to-access-clean-safe-disease-free-drinking-water.-you-can-support) Advertising --- ### Subscribe to our newsletters Sign up to get the latest news and insights from us Advertising --- ![white arrow pointing upwards](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-white-arrow-up.svg) Top [![Footer-logo-02](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/Footer-logo-02.svg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/) The **Australian Water Association** acknowledges the Traditional Custodians across Australia, where we live, work and play, for their deep connection to our precious waters and land. 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