2007/10 – Alice Springs – Radioactivity
2007/8: Nine of the 14 bores supplying Alice Springs were below the gross alpha and gross beta activity concentration screening value of 0.5 Bq/L. Five bores exceeded 0.5 Bq/L for gross alpha but all were below 0.5 Bq/L for K-40 corrected gross beta.
2009/10: Alice Springs bores were assessed for radioactivity levels in June 2008 and February 2010. Eleven of the 16 bores supplying Alice Springs were below the gross alpha and gross beta activity concentration screening value of 0.5 Bq/L. Five bores exceeded 0.5 Bq/L for gross alpha and two of these bores also exceeded 0.5 Bq/L for K-40 corrected gross beta. The total annual radiation dose estimate is reported as the maximum value of all 16 bores.
2009/10: Alice Springs Radiological 1.32mg/L
2003/4: Alice Springs – E.coli
2003/4: E coli (org/100ml) <1 in 98% samples 1 99.4%
Thermotolerant coliforms are a sub-group of coliforms that are able to grow at 44.5 ± 0.2°C. E. coli is the most common thermotolerant coliform present in faeces and is regarded as the most specific indicator of recent faecal contamination because generally it is not capable of growth in the environment. In contrast, some other thermotolerant coliforms (including strains of Klebsiella, Citrobacter and Enterobacter) are able to grow in the environment and their presence is not necessarily related to faecal contamination. While tests for thermotolerant coliforms can be simpler than for E. coli, E. coli is considered a superior indicator for detecting faecal contamination…” ADWG
Alice Springs – Northern Territory – Hardness
2003/04: Alice Springs Hardness 210mg/L
2004/05: Alice Springs Hardness 210mg/L
2006/07: Alice Springs Hardness 224mg/L
2007/08: Alice Springs Hardness 220mg/L
2008/09: Alice Springs Hardness 220mg/L
2009/10: Alice Springs Hardness 220mg/L
2010/11: Alice Springs Hardness 210mg/L
2011/12: Alice Springs Hardness 208mg/L
2013/14: Alice Springs Hardness 213mg/L
2014/15: Alice Springs Hardness 201mg/L
2015/16: Alice Springs Hardness 229mg/L
2016/17: Alice Springs Hardness 217mg/L
2020/21: Alice Springs Hardness 200mg/L (max), 200mg/L (av.)
GUIDELINE
“To minimise undesirable build‑up of scale in hot water systems, total hardness (as calcium
carbonate) in drinking water should not exceed 200 mg/L.
Hard water requires more soap than soft water to obtain a lather. It can also cause scale to form on hot water pipes and fittings. Hardness is caused primarily by the presence of calcium and magnesium ions, although other cations such as strontium, iron, manganese and barium can also contribute.”
Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011
Alice Springs – Northern Territory – Iodine
2006/07: Alice Springs Iodine 0.14mg/L
2007/8: Alice Springs Iodine 0.15mg/L
2008/09: Alice Springs Iodine 0.1mg/L
GUIDELINE
Iodide: Based on health considerations, the concentration of iodide in drinking water should
not exceed 0.5 mg/L.
Iodine: No guideline value has been set for molecular iodine.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The element iodine is present naturally in seawater, nitrate minerals and seaweed, mostly in the form of iodide salts. It may be present in water due to leaching from salt and mineral deposits. Iodide can be oxidised to molecular iodine with strong disinfectants such as chlorine.
Molecular iodine solutions are used as antiseptics and as sanitising agents in hospitals and laboratories.
Iodine is occasionally used for the emergency disinfection of water for field use but is not used for disinfecting larger drinking water supplies. Iodide is used in pharmaceutical and photographic materials. Iodine has a taste threshold in water of about 0.15 mg/L.
Iodide occurs in cows’ milk and seafood. Some countries add iodide to table salt to compensate for iodide-deficient diets.
Alice Springs – Northern Territory – Lead
2002-2004: Alice Springs Lead 0.006mg/L (av.) 2005/2006: Alice Springs Lead 0.005mg/L (max) 2007/2008: Alice Springs Lead 0.006mg/L (max) 2006/2007: Alice Springs Lead 0.007mg/L (95% percentile) 2010/2011: Alice Springs Lead 0.005mg/L (max) 2011/2012: Alice Springs Lead 0.005mg/L (max)
Lead Guideline reduced from 0.01mg/L to 0.005mg/L in June 2025. “The concentration of lead in water within premises may be higher, especially in older buildings, due to contact of the water with lead-containing plumbing products (enHealth 2021). A review found several Australian and international studies that detected up to 0.162 mg/L of lead in drinking water due to leaching from lead-containing plumbing materials including taps and lead service lines, suggesting that leaching of lead from lead-containing plumbing materials can be substantial (SLR 2023)… Based on health considerations, the concentration of lead in drinking water should not exceed 0.005 mg/L.”
Alice Springs – Northern Territory – Selenium
2002-2004: Alice Springs Selenium 0.004mg/L (max)
2005/2006: Alice Springs Selenium 0.004mg/L (max)
2006/2007: Alice Springs Selenium 0.004mg/L (95% percentile)
2007/2008: Alice Springs Selenium 0.004mg/L (max)
Based on health considerations, the concentration of selenium in drinking water should not exceed 0.004 mg/L (2011-2025 guideline 0.01mg/L). “General description Selenium (Se) and selenium salts are widespread in the environment. Selenium is released from natural and human-made sources (such as the burning of coal). Selenium is also a by-product of the processing of sulfide ores, chiefly in the copper refining industry. The major use of selenium is in the manufacture of electronic components. It is used in several other industries, and selenium compounds are used in some insecticides, in hair shampoos as an antidandruff agent, and as a nutritional feed additive for poultry and livestock. Selenium copper alloys have also been identified as a potential replacement for lead copper alloys in plumbing products. Further information on lead replacements in plumbing products (such as selenium copper alloys) is available in Information Sheet 4.1 – Metal and metalloid chemicals leaching from plumbing products. Selenium concentrations in drinking water source waters are generally very low and depend on local geochemistry, climatic conditions (e.g. drought), pH and the presence of iron salts. Selenium in water is mainly present as inorganic compounds, predominantly selenate. Weathering of rocks and soil may result in low levels of selenium in water, which may be taken up by plants (SLR 2022). Food is the major source of intake for Australians. Cereal and grain products contribute most to intake, while fish and liver contain the highest selenium concentrations.” ADWG 2025