NSW Labor weighed in on the detection of E. coli and coliforms in parts of Dubbo’s water supply.

In State Parliament on Tuesday, NSW Labor asked Water Minister Niall Blair questions without notice about the time taken to alert 3,300 properties about the possible contamination of their drinking water.

Dubbo Regional Council detected contaminants in the water supply reticulation zone served by the Myall Street Reservoir “late last week”, but did not issue a public health alert until Monday.

Residents have voiced concerns about the time lapse between detection and disclosure.

Council has defended the timing, saying a second water sample test was needed to confirm the presence of contaminants. Those results came through at the weekend.

“The state government has a responsibility to alert families at the earliest possible time,” NSW Labor’s spokesperson for Dubbo Daniel Mookhey said.

The Daily Liberal asked Mr Blair’s office for comment.

A spokesperson for Mr Blair said on Wednesday: “DPI Water is providing advice and assistance to Dubbo Regional Council and NSW Health, who are responding to a detection of E. coli in parts of their water supply system.”

Mr Mookhey said the government “must explain why it took almost a week to alert the community”.

He and NSW Shadow Health Minister Walt Secord called for an independent investigation into the delay.

“Sadly, there is a cloak of secrecy at all levels in NSW,” Mr Secord said.

“The community has a right to know if E. coli is detected in their drinking water.”