Swan Hill (Victoria) – Pesticides
1972 August: Amitrole 320μg/L – 2011 Australian Guideline Amitrole 0.9μg/L
Untitled document ‘Contamination Limits’ State Rivers and Water Supply Commission August 1972
the event revealed that fluoride concentration after the treated water storage tank exceeded 1.5 mg/L.
As the treated water fluoride analyser measures the concentration of fluoride in water to be supplied, LMW submitted a s22 report. The root cause for the high fluoride concentration was due to insufficient dilution during flushing of the dosing lines. In response to the incident a procedure was developed for manual startup of the fluoride dosing system. Lesson learned
was shared among the operators in their toolbox meeting. A debrief was held between DH and LMW on 21 July 2023 where four action groups were identified and LMW is working towards implementing them.
Based on health considerations, the concentration of fluoride in drinking water should not exceed 1.5 mg/L.
“Fluoride occurs naturally in seawater (1.4 mg/L), soil (up to 300 parts per million) and air (from volcanic gases and industrial pollution). Naturally occurring fluoride concentrations in drinking water depend on the type of soil and rock through which the water drains. Generally, concentrations in surface water are relatively low (<0.1–0.5 mg/L), while water from deeper wells may have quite high concentrations (1–10 mg/L) if the rock formations are fluoride-rich.” 2011 ADWG.