General

A commonly used definition of drinking water is water that is intended for human consumption and other domestic uses. It may be used directly from the tap, or indirectly in beverages or food prepared with water. Bathing and showering may be among its other uses. High quality drinking water is essential for public health. The quality of tap water throughout Australia is of a high standard when compared to other parts of the world, but in some remote and rural settlements water supplied to consumers or used at farmsteads may not meet Australian and WHO drinking water quality standards. Maintenance of high quality drinking water depends on the effectiveness of managing the water supply catchments, storage dynamics, treatment processes and distribution systems. Increasing pressures on surface and groundwater resources from urban, agricultural and industrial land uses will require multiple barrier approaches for managing risks.

Key Issues

The main issues relate to contamination of water sources through sewage, industrial effluent, stormwater and rural run-off. More than 200 towns in NSW use groundwater as their principal source of potable water and aquifers need to be protected as well as surface waters. Salinity, nutrients, toxic inorganic and organic substances, algae, bacteria, and pathogens are all of concern. Many NSW rivers, lakes and water storages have high nutrient concentrations and high salinity. Salinity above 800EC is not recommended for drinking and high nitrate levels can adversely affect public health as they cause a debilitating condition in some consumers. Algal blooms occur frequently in water storages and in rivers; these render the water unsuitable for drinking unless treated to remove algae and any toxins present.

Protocols

The 1996 Australian Drinking Water Guidelines provide the national framework which is endorsed by NSW Health. They focus on health-based and aesthetic criteria. Indicators for assessing drinking water quality include bacteria, pathogens, algae, toxicants, and radiological substances.

For methods for the analysis of water pollutants consult the EPA (1998) reference: Approved methods for the sampling and analysis of water pollutants in New South Wales. The methods are based on the American Public Health Association, USEPA standard methods and the Standards Association of Australia.

Core protocols are those for the following indicators:

Algal blooms
Bacteria monitoring
Physical and chemical
Protozoan monitoring
Salinity

Supplementary protocols / information relate to:

Algal species density and diversity
Chlorophyll a
Desktop monitoring using satellite data
Diatom monitoring
Groundwater
Metals in water
Oil and other spills
Primary productivity
Profiling
Real time Chlorophyll monitoring

Contacts - Core Agencies

The main organisations with formal responsibilities include the following:

• Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR) provides technical management and financial support to Councils through the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program. Provides water management licences to water authorities which set out the requirements to be met relating to monitoring, reporting and water releases and transfers. Monitors water storages for physico-chemical indicators and undertake a range of programs related to the integrated flow assessments program and water and groundwater management plans. Preparing Sydney & Regional Centres Drinking Water Catchments REP for the catchments providing water to Sydney and adjacent regional centres.
• NSW Health provides a water testing service, including microbiological and chemical indicators and pesticide residues, to water supply authorities other than Sydney Water and Hunter Water. Verifies testing for Cryptosporidium and Giardia testing undertaken by SCA and SWC.

Other organisations involved:

• Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) is responsible under the Sydney Water Catchment Management Act 1998 for the management of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment, dams and infrastructure that provides Sydney’s bulk water supply. The SCA undertakes extensive physico-chemical, flow and health related samples of water catchment areas around Sydney.
• Sydney Water Corporation (SWC) supplies the Sydney, Illawarra and Blue Mountains regions with drinking water; they monitor water quality from filtration plants in Sydney, Illawarra and the Blue Mountains.
• Hunter Water Corporation monitors water storages, and investigates future water sources in the Hunter Region.
• Local Councils are responsible for providing water supplies to country towns in NSW under the Local Government Act 1993.
• The Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability (DEUS) – State Water is involved in managing water supplies for country towns; it monitors water usage from regulated rivers and groundwater management areas and
• The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) monitors industry performance in relation to licence provisions.
• The CRC for Water Quality and Treatment is a national strategic research body for drinking water quality.

Case Studies

Sydney Drinking Water Catchment Audit 2003

Brisbane City Council: Drinking Water Quality

Sydney Catchment Authority: Water Quality