Gretna is just an hour out of Hobart, and is one of 26 communities in Tasmania where residents can’t drink the water.

Recently, TasWater advised parents not to wash babies and young children in the water, in case they accidentally swallow some. The people of Gretna say they should be compensated for their increased power bills as a result of constantly boiling water, and the costs of regularly replacing appliances that get silted up.

Backchat reporter Selena Shannon speaks to residents of the town about how and why things have got this bad.

Photo credit: flickr user AnjHann