As has been stressed by a North Queensland childcare centre, the problems currently being faced as far the water quality in Bowen goes, will pose some definite issues for the staff and children.

Residents have been instructed to boil their water before consumption, after E. coli was detected in the town water supply during regular testing, which happened earlier during the week.

The Whitsunday Mayor has asserted that it could be a minimum of two weeks before the water is designated as safe to drink.

"When you're bathing infants or young toddlers, it's really difficult to keep that water away from their mouth or away from their face. When you're trying to wash their face the first thing they do is try to put their tongue out or try and consume some of the water. So I think it's going to raise some difficulties and it's also going to raise stress levels for some families because they are quite concerned about this", said Julienne Elphinstone from Bowen Collinsville family daycare, while stressing that the water issues will make things very difficult for people working with small children.