6.

Chemical tests for levels of different types of contaminants

A typical analysis of treated water within the distribution network of Wyong Shire is shown in Table 4.
Table 4: Typical physical and chemical analysis of Wyong Shire treated water 200 and its relationship
to the 2004 !"#$%& 'uidelines. (Source: Wyong Shire &ouncil)
2004 NH&MRC Guidelines
arameter !nits "#C Health $esthetic
$% hysical Characteristics
p" *.+ !,A- ../ 0 ./
"ardness mg,1 as &a&23 .0.. !,A 200
Total 4issol5ed Solids mg,1 6. !,A /00
&onducti5ity uS,cm 20
True &olour "a7en 8nits 6.4 !,A 6/
Turbidity !T8 0.2 !,A- /
Alkalinity mg,1 as &a&23 34 !,A
&% 'nor(anic Chemical Characteristics
Acrylamide mg,1 !4 0.0002
Aluminium mg,1 0.0*6 !,A- 0.2
Ammonium mg,1 9 !,A- 0./
Antimony mg,1 !4 0.003
Arsenic mg,1 :0.006 0.00*
Asbestos mg,1 9 !,A-
;arium mg,1 0.04* 0.*
;eryllium mg,1 9 !,A-
;oron mg,1 .0. 4
&admium mg,1 !4 0.002
&alcium mg,1 6/.. !,A
&hloride mg,1 . !,A 2/0
&hromium mg,1 !4 0.0/
&opper mg,1 0.602 2 6.0
&yanide mg,1 !4 0.0
<luoride mg,1 0.+/ 6./
"ydrogen Sulphide mg,1 9 !,A- 0.0/
=odide mg,1 0.0/0 0.6
=ron mg,1 0.0*2 !,A- 0.3
1ead mg,1 0.002 0.06
$agnesium mg,1 /.2 !,A
$anganese mg,1 0.00* 0./ 0.6
$ercury mg,1 !4 0.006
$olybdenum mg,1 !4 0.0/
!ickel mg,1 !4 0.02
!itrate as !23 mg,1 0.+./ /0
!itrite as !22 mg,1 !4 3
Selenium mg,1 !4 0.06
Sil5er mg,1 !4 0.6
Sodium mg,1 3/.3 !,A 60
Sulphate mg,1 6/.2 /00 2/0
Tin mg,1 9 !,A
>inc mg,1 0.03 !,A- 3
9 !ot routinely tested by !SW "ealth based on potential for presence in source waters or less than
detectable ?uantity.
!,A !o health based guideline 5alue considered necessary by !"#$%&
!,A- =nsufficient data to set a guideline based on health considerations.
C% )isinfection &y*roducts and )isinfection $(ents
&hlorine mg,1 :0.2 / 0..
&arbon Tetrachloride mg,1 !4 0.003
Trihalomethanes mg,1 0.0+3 0.2/0
!o other disinfection agents or by@products ha5e been determined or detected.
)% +r(anic Compounds
!ot tested by !SW "ealth. Sources for compounds listed in 'uidelines unlikely to occur in catchment
,% esticides
!o pesticides detected at any time in 2&A 2BA &BAA Tria7ine,Bhenylurea and 'lyphosate groups
-% Micro*or(anisms
.. Routine
E. coli
WS& 'uideline
46. samples p,a returned a ++.3C compliance rate.
. samples,week for 600A000 persons plus 6 sample,month per additional 60A000 personsD +C of
scheduled samples should be free of thermotolerant coliforms (E. coli) .Action should be taken if
any presence detected. !umber of organisms is irrele5ant.
2. Non*routine
Giardia and Cryptosporidium !o organisms detected to date. Tested monthly since EulyA 6++
!o guideline 5alues. =f detectedA ad5ice to be sought from rele5ant health authority.
2n the &entral &oastA potable water (i.e. water supplied for drinking purposes) is 5ery safe for
human consumption. 1e5els of all inorganic substances are well below the 2004 !"#$%&
'uidelines health risk thresholds (see Table 4). Samples from the Wyong Shire distribution
system in 200 were completely free of Giardia and Cryptosporidium micro@organisms in regular
monthly samplings. ;ased on analysis of 46. water samples o5er a one year periodA tests for
Escherichia coli bacteria returned a ++.3C compliance rate.
=n summaryA as far as human health is concernedA drinking water on the &entral &oast is of 5ery
high ?uality. The aesthetic ?uality of &entral &oast potable water is also 5ery high but with some
5ariation across seasons and localities within the network.
As with all water suppliesA potable water on the &entral &oast contains small amounts of
naturally occurring minerals such as calciumA magnesiumA iron and manganese. Without these
substances the water would taste bland. The &entral &oast water is considered soft because
the concentration of calcium and magnesium is relati5ely low. This is because the geology of
the catchments is dominated by sandstone and other sedimentary rocks.
After filtration at the Somersby and $ardi treatment plantsA low le5els of chlorine are added to
protect the water as it tra5els to our homes.
The water is also fluoridatedA in line with the policy of the !SW 4epartment of "ealth. Water
fluoridation ensures impro5ed dental health for the entire communityA regardless of a personFs
ageA incomeA le5el of educationA or ability to get dental care. A constant supply of low le5el
fluoride can reduce the amount of ca5ities in childrenFs baby teeth by as much as .0 per cent
and in adultsF teeth by nearly 3/ per cent. At the Somersby water treatment plantA in 'osford
ShireA hydrofluosilicic acid is added with precision to the water supply in li?uid form through
dosing pumps at a rate of 6.0 ppm. "ydrofluosilicic acid is a colourlessA tasteless and odourless
li?uid. The dosed water is then continually monitored to ensure fluoride le5els remain within the
optimal concentration range. At the $ardi water treatment plantA in Wyong ShireA fluoridation is
carried out by feeding sodium silicofluoride into a slurry tank and then metering it into the flow to
the &lear water Tank.
The ?uality of water supplied to customers is regularly tested by 'osford and Wyong councils
and by independentA !ational Association of Testing Authorities (!ATA) registeredA laboratories
to ensure this water complies with the Australian 4rinking Water 'uidelines (A4W'). Tests are
regularly conducted on aesthetic and health criteria to ensure the water meets the A4W' and is
safe for human consumption. $ost water ?uality concerns reported by customers are related to
appearanceA taste and odour and are not a health issue.
$ppearance
Although town drinking water supplies are generally colourlessA from time to time the waterFs
colour can change. SometimesA it can take on a yellow or reddish,brown to almost black tintA
while other times it can appear milky white or blue. This is known as discoloured water.
=ncidents of discoloured water are more common during summer and periods of high demandA
in low@lying areasA suburbs at the furthest end of the water supply systemA dead@ends and in
areas that normally eGperience low 5elocities.
8ntil recentlyA the incidence of discoloured water in 'osford was increasing. This wasA in partA
due to the se5ere and ongoing drought which restricted 'osford &ouncilFs normal mains
cleaning programs that remo5e accumulated materials from the water supply system.
=n 4ecember 200*A 'osford &ouncil launched an integrated program called Water Huality 2060
(see below) to minimise discoloured water e5ents and the effects they ha5e on the community.
/aste and +dour
The taste and odour of water can 5ary from tap to tap and can be impacted by naturally
occurring mineralsA &ouncil treatment processes and internal plumbing. Bersonal likes and
dislikes also influence the perception of taste and odour.
Some of the common taste and odour complaints are listed below.
Chlorine
&ouncils add chlorine to the water supply at the water treatment plants to remo5e harmful
bacteria and protect water ?uality. A small residual of chlorine is generally present in drinking
water once it reaches your tap and from time to time you may notice a slight chlorine taste or
smell. &ouncil carefully controls and monitors this process to ensure the residual poses no risk
to health.
The consumer can eliminate the taste and smell of chlorine of drinking water by placing it in a
co5ered Iug in the refrigerator. =t is recommended that this water be consumed within 24 hours.
4omestic water filters or Iug filters are also useful.
Musty0 mouldy or earthy
$usty tastes and odours in drinking water can be caused by organic growth within water pipes.
$ould and bacteria can breed in internal plumbing when certain Iointing compounds are used
for domestic fittings or appliancesA or when cold water pipes pass closely to hot water pipes that
are not insulated.
Water pipes in areas of the supply system with low flow rates can also create an en5ironment
for organic growth.
Rust and metal
4rinking water with a rusty or metallic taste generally contains eGcessi5e ironA manganese and
other metals. When these materials are present in high le5elsA a change in the colour of the
water is also apparent.
Treatment processes remo5e naturally occurring iron and manganese from the water supply.
"owe5erA as the water mo5es through the system to your tapA it may pick up material from
corroding pipes not lined with cement. This may change the taste of your drinking water.
A rusty or metallic taste can also occur if the internal pipes of a household are corroded. When
house plumbing is corrodedA water may appear clear at firstA but then turn rusty or black in a few
minutes.
Rotten e(( smell
%otten egg gas @ hydrogen sulfide @ is typically caused by decay of organic matter or chemical
reactions in your plumbingA or by bacteria which change naturally occurring sulfates into
hydrogen sulfide. These bacteria can be present in the water supply systemA groundwater or hot
water systems.
=f the smell only comes from your hot water tapA there may ha5e a problem with your hot water
system. "owe5erA if the smell is strong from both hot and cold water taps when they are first
turned on and diminishes after the water has runA the bacteria are probably in the water supply
system. =n the Wyong ShireA there is no problem of hydrogen sulfide in the town water supply
-luoride
The taste and smell of drinking water does not change as a result of water fluoridation because
the type of fluoride used to fluoridate the water supply has no taste or smell.
Household "ater 1uality
The ?uality of water deli5ered to your home can be affected by the nature of pipes inside your
property. This is particularly so if you ha5e corroding gal5anised pipes.
While 'osford and Wyong &ouncils accept responsibility for the maintenanceA repair and
renewal of the water supply system up to the water meter on a propertyA it is the responsibility of
homeowners to maintain the plumbing and draining on their own properties. This includes all
fittingsA pipes and rainwater tanks.
=t is highly recommends that a licensed plumber carry out any plumbing work re?uired within
your property. The plumber should also pro5ide the owner with a &ertificate of &ompliance once
the work is completedA particularly for work 5alued at o5er J/00.
Gosford City2s 3"ater 1uality 20.02 to reduce the 'ncidence of )iscoloured "ater
Water Huality 2060 is a multi@million dollar drinking water ?uality management program.
1aunched in 200*A the main aim of the program is to reduce the incidence of discoloured water
throughout the 'osford &ity area. =n September 200A the <ederal 'o5ernment announced a
J4./ million funding commitment in support of the capital works component of the program.
&apital works include impro5ements at the Somersby water filtration plantA upgrades to
reser5oirsA and refurbishment of pipelinesA and as well as upgrades to the facilities for
monitoring and analysing water ?uality.
'mprovements to the "ater -iltration lant at #omers4y include%
&onstruction of a lime and carbon dioGide dosing system to stabilise the treated waterD
buffering it against p" changes in the system and minimising the corrosion of cement@
lined pipes.
&onstruction of a potassium permanganate dosing system to facilitate manganese
remo5al from the waterA thereby minimising the amount of discoloured water@causing
material entering the water supply system.
&onstruction of a pre@chlorination system to pro5ide an additional barrier assisting in the
remo5al of manganese from the water.
=nstallation of a facility to remo5e wastewater containing high iron and manganese le5els
from the treatment process.
'mprovements to the Reservoirs include%
%eplacement of corroded ladders.
%efurbishment of roofing and bird@proofing.
%eplacement of roof hatches where gaps in roofing are present.
=nstallation of de5ices to encourage miGing within the reser5oir.
'mprovements to ipelines include%
=nstallation of pipe@work and 5al5es to facilitate cleaning of large trunk mains between
Somersby and !orth 'osfordA and between Kariong and Woy Woy.
%eplacement of unlined 5al5es and hydrants in the Beninsula.
2ther possible impro5ements may include remo5al of dead ends in water mains and creation of
supply 7ones in areas where compleG networks of pipes eGist so as to impro5e water 5elocities
through the pipes.
!p(rades to Monitorin( facilities include%
<low@meters installed in key locations throughout the system.
=nstallation of new in@line monitoring e?uipment to pro5ide information on water ?uality at
key locations in the system and act as early warning systems for water ?uality issues.
!ew portable monitoring e?uipment to allow water ?uality in5estigations at specific
properties.
!ew laboratory analysis e?uipment.
!ew field sampling e?uipment.