2001–2002: Gold Coast – Complaints from residents about the taste and odour of tap water following termiticide treatment. Permeation through plastic water pipes by solvents is suspected as the cause. Analysis of water samples indicated the presence of volatile organics, C3and C4 substituted benzenes and aromatic hydrocarbons. The termiticides chlorpyrifos and bifenthrin were also identified, but were not quantified and so it is difficult to make health risk assessments regarding them. In cases where the polyethylene pipes were replaced with copper pipes the contamination ceased, suggesting that there was some permeation of solvents through the polyethylene pipes.

http://www.hpw.qld.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/ReviewOfTermitisidesInAustralia.pdf