Cashing in on the Scare Campaign

I recall discussing recycled water scare campaigns on this blog a couple of years ago. So I was interested to read this article from a Queensland local newspaper. It seems there’s money to be made from playing on people’s fears...

Should I really be surprised?


Water Wise see Beyond Sales Pitch
By Christopher O’Leary
South West News
29 January, 2009.

SOUTHWEST: Door-to-door water purifier salesmen are reported to have told residents that they were risking diseases including cancer by drinking town water.

The salesmen were reported in Gailes, Goodna, Springfield, Collingwood Park and Redbank Plains, claiming the area’s water was recycled.

Eight people complained to Ipswich City Councillor Paul Tully’s (Div 2) office about the traders, who were trying to sell water purifiers and coolers by direct debit from residents’ bank accounts.

Cr Tully said at least two people signed up and one complained to the Office of Fair Trading after trying to contact the company behind the products to cancel the sale. Fair Trading officers are now investigating reports in Ipswich.

This month foul-smelling, dirty-tasting water flowed through southwest taps due to an algae outbreak at Mt Crosby Weir.

Gailes resident Julie Fullarton said two people from the sales group said the local water was recycled, and from Toowoomba.

“I said we don’t get Toowoomba water, then my husband Howard shut the door on them,’’ she said.

Goodna resident Maryanne Reynolds was frightened when one salesman named “David” arrived at her door last week.

She said “David” showed her a picture of a woman’s breasts that were covered in blisters.

He told Ms Reynolds the blisters were a symptom of breast cancer, which she could develop from drinking tap water.

“I was frightened,’’ she said.

“I was horrified to look at it even as a nurse.

“Imagine if they showed that to someone who had breast cancer.”

“David” provided Ms Reynolds with his phone number but refused to talk when the News contacted him on Friday.

The company believed to employ the salespeople declined repeated requests for comment about the complaints.

According to the Queensland Water Commission, purified recycled water will only be introduced into Wivenhoe Dam when South-East Queensland’s combined dam levels reach the 40 per cent trigger level.

Queensland Health maintains that water fluoridation has been endorsed by the World Health Organisation and poses no known health risks.

It has also been endorsed by the Australian Medical Association and American Academy of Pediatrics.

Traders caught breaching the 1989 Fair Trading Act faced fines of up to $54,000, and $270,000 for companies.