Even the dog won’t drink it! Sign your support to fix the water in Quorn, South Australia

Imagine living in a town where your tap water tastes like a swimming pool. Welcome to Quorn, South Australia.

An SA Water survey revealed 97% of people living in Quorn don’t drink the town’s tap water. It’s bitter and smacks of chlorine and salt.

Many pets don’t drink it. Plants won’t survive long with it.

The town is run with bottled water from a single store off the main street.

We need action from the state government now to fix this problem. And we need your support.

Sign your name to support Quorn now

This is the harsh reality for the residents of Quorn

Quorn is a small country town in the Flinders Ranges—a four hour drive north of Adelaide. It’s an important town. A historic town. Named SA’s Best Tiny Tourism Town in 2022.

Home of the elusive yellow-footed rock wallaby, the Pichi Richi Railway and the Silo Light Show. Birthplace of footballers, painters, actors. A place to return for a former Australian of the Year.

But the water coming out of the pipes—the taste, the clarity, the smell is entirely unpalatable, in fact, the tests from SA Water give Quorn a 0% compliance rating for chloride, sodium, and hardness.

The state government says it’s safe. But here’s what we know:

• * Household dogs and cats often avoid drinking it.
• * Plants and gardens struggle with the high salt, eventually withering away.
• * Elderly residents, already struggling to make ends meet, are pushed to dig deeper into their pockets for expensive bottled water.
• * Children get rashes and skin sores.
• * The working life of the town taps cut in half by mineral deposits and build-up. Homeowners are pressured to cough up the cash to fix their pipes and hot water systems every few years.

Why this needs to be fixed

Clean water isn't a luxury—it's a necessity.

It’s fundamental to the way we operate in the world each and every day.

Clean water for Quorn will:

• * support tourism and make it a nicer place to visit
• * improve life for everyone in town
• * reduce the need for plastic water bottles

Those living in Quorn will tell you themselves. Here’s what they have to say:

“We cannot drink our tap water; our laundry machine has been already replaced once this year due to white chemical build up. We can only give our pets bottled or rainwater… it is honestly unacceptable and makes me feel like moving away.” – Resident, Quorn

“It affects our plants. The dog doesn’t drink it. Leaves marks on the shower screens and sink and discolours the toilet and destroys the hot water service. Can’t run it through the air conditioners.” – Resident, Quorn

“My son has constant skin infection from the terrible quality water, I have lived in a lot of places in Australia it is by far the worst here!” – Resident, Quorn

We need your help to stand with these people. To show them you care, and they matter.

What needs to happen right now to fix the water in Quorn

SA Water has declared Quorn the priority community for urgent water quality improvements. This was after a rigorous assessment by their team of specialists.

They’ve been on the waitlist for thirty years.

No money has been allocated in the SA Water budget for the next four years. Just like the previous four years. Quorn is in limbo with no clear timeline for when they’ll ever be able to have drinkable water.

Quorn has repeatedly asked for help: SA Water. State Government. Essential Services Commission of SA. The phone has been ringing. The call has been ignored.

Our state government need to commit funding to fix this problem.

That’s why we need your help. Please sign up to support Quorn and make our state government care about our regional towns.

Sign your name

How you can help make a difference

It's time for action—no more delays.

Quorn have followed the rules. They’ve reported the problem. They’ve voiced their concerns. And still nothing. These pleas for help have been ignored for far too long.

Add your name to the form below to demand action to rebuild infrastructure and protect the health and future of Quorn.

Submit your name to support Quorn now

Your signature matters. The residents of Quorn believe that with supporters like you, change is possible.

The people of Quorn are tired of empty promises from those in power. It's time to fix what's broken and set aside the funds to make clean water happen.

Stand with the residents of Quorn to ask the state government to fix the problem—before it’s too late! Sign your name now.