Long been regarded as a stepping stone for modern society, one of the first recorded instances of an early plumbing system was in ancient Rome. The Roman empire built a series of aqueducts and pipes that delivered water to people’s homes and to public wells for the community to use. The Romans also built complex sewer networks that were shaped to send sewage downstream to nearby rivers.

Water and sewerage infrastructure are hallmarks of a progressive society and something that most Tasmanians would agree is important to our modern way of life.

It is important for the future longevity of our cities and towns that the need for infrastructure repairs and upgrades is at hand.

However, it is not the need that is the sticking point, but who is responsible?

In the past, the responsibility for Tasmania’s water and sewerage network has fallen on local government.

Three regional corporations, Ben Lomond water, Cradle Mountain Water and Southern Water, were amalgamated into TasWater in 2011.

However, TasWater is still a council-run corporation, that is directed in its endeavours and funded in the most part by local government.

The state government has made it clear that it wishes to tackle the issue of water and sewerage in Tasmania and flagged a potential government takeover of TasWater.

Tasmana has more boil water alerts and do not consume alerts than any other state in Australia and its water and sewerage issues are more than seven times the national average.

On Sunday, there were 21 boil water alerts listed across Tasmania. Do Not Consume alerts were listed for Avoca, Pioneer, Rossarden and Winnaleah.

The government surely has some role to play in assisting in the repair and upgrades – based on the sheer size of the task at hand?

Perhaps a combined effort on behalf of local government and the state government would help to address the issue quickly.

If there is one thing that is perfectly clear, is that something needs to be done to address the access of clear, clean water to some of Tasmania’s more vulnerable and isolated communities.