Water from the tap of Narrandera resident Kae Smith in September 2025. Photo: Kae Smith.
Wagga-based MP Wes Fang has slammed the poor quality of tap water in Narrandera, saying the NSW Government would never accept a similar standard in Newtown or Sydney.
At a parliamentary hearing last week, he put the heat on Water Minister Rose Jackson after tabling images of the brownish liquid that sometimes emerges from faucets in the Riverina town.
“Minister, would you drink that water?” he asked.
“Sorry?” Minister Jackson replied.
“Would you drink the water that is shown in the photos?” he said.
“It doesn’t look very nice. I agree with that. I probably wouldn’t prefer to [drink it],” the minister said.
An image of Narrandera tap water Wes Fang tabled at the hearing. Photo: Supplied.
The substandard quality of Narrandera tap water has been an issue for several years.
“It’s vile,” resident Kae Smith said.
“I can only drink bottled water. I lived in Sydney for many years and drank a lot of tap water but I moved here 20 years ago and soon after ended up with an upset stomach from drinking tap water.”
Mr Fang also asked the minister why it was acceptable for Narrandera to have this sort of drinking water when it wouldn’t be allowed in Newtown or Sydney.
“I just completely reject the premise of your question,” Ms Jackson replied.
“Because there are circumstances across the state where local water utilities who manage water provision in regional areas have water quality challenges. That does happen.”
Minister Jackson said while the water in Narrandera didn’t look particularly palatable, it was drinkable.
Another image provided by Mr Fang.
Three days after this parliamentary hearing, the Federal Government announced it would provide $908,000 to develop a full business case for a new water filtration plant in Narrandera.
Narrandera’s water supply draws from bores drilled in the 1960s and is treated with chlorination to make it drinkable.
The Federal Government conceded the quality and reliability of the town’s water supply had “challenges” and the location of bores on a floodplain also made it susceptible to contamination.
Cootamundra MP Steph Cooke has called on the NSW Government to implement emergency safeguards that guarantee the delivery of safe drinking water in the short-term and to match the Commonwealth’s commitment to fund a permanent water treatment plant.
Ms Cooke said emergency measures included the deployment of a temporary treatment plant to remove iron, manganese, and other contaminants from the water supply, in addition to $2 million to enable the council to flush the town’s mains before summer.
“Access to clean water is a basic human right,” Ms Cooke said.
“The government must address Narrandera’s water quality well before summer reaches its peak, which is when residents are more likely to see discoloured water running from their taps.
“The short-term measures we’re proposing can be delivered with the stroke of a pen, and therefore I’m imploring our state’s Water Minister to not wait until Narrandera is on a boil water notice.”
Ms Cooke said she was still waiting for the NSW Government to address these concerns.
