Preston Beach residents call for solution to ‘undrinkable’ hard water that corrodes appliances, stains clothes
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-08/preston-beach-residents-call-solution-undrinkable-water-problem/102062844
Mike Bright says the water corroded the heating element in his hot water system.(Supplied: Mike Bright)
Life in this regional town seems idyllic but every turn of the tap reminds locals of water problems that have plagued the community for decades.
Residents of Preston Beach, 120 kilometres south of Perth, say hard water is corroding appliances, staining clothes and leaving a bad a taste in their mouths.
Aaron Castafaro has lived in the town for 36 years.
He said his family had long been relying on bottled water for drinking and cooking.
“I’ve tried it and it’s an awful taste. To me it’s undrinkable,” he said
“We’re not a third-world country.”
Hard water is caused by a higher than usual concentration of naturally occurring minerals such as calcium and magnesium salts.
Mr Castafaro said he had replaced multiple dishwashers, washing machines and kettles after sediment built up in them over the years.
Fewer than 400 people live in Preston Beach, but the area is a hotspot for Perth visitors.
Mr Castafaro said community concern had fallen on deaf ears.
“They need to do something about it — either put bigger filters where they’re getting water from on the tanks or finding better water [or] get onto proper mains water like other towns are,” he said.
“How come everyone else is getting nice drinking water and we’re just getting the lowest standard they’ve got?”
Residents cycle through appliances
It’s a similar story for other residents.
Mike Bright said during his first year in the town, he spent upwards of $2,000 fixing damage to appliances and installing a home filtration system.
“We experienced in our first five months here severe corrosion to our hot water system. Our brand-new hot water system we replaced when we came into the property,” he said.
“There’s all corrosion and sediment inside the washing machine [and] kettles obviously need consistent descaling and of course expensive coffee machines.
“We avoid buying things that are black because it leaves white stains and marks. The water is very hard so it damages a lot of our clothes.”
Mr Bright said when he moved to town, he didn’t know how much his life would change.
“We understood there was an issue. Preston Beach has a very clear history of bad water quality when it comes to the hardness of the water.
“But the degree that it affects our day-to-day and the overall livability … We even considered selling and relocating back to our Perth residence.”
Hope a long way off
Water to the town’s 350 residents comes from two groundwater bores.
The Water Corporation said there were long-term plans to connect Preston Beach to the Integrated Water Supply Scheme, which provided drinking water to people in Perth, the Goldfields and parts of the South West.
“It is likely the town will be connected to the [scheme] as its population grows,” said a spokeswoman.
The ABC understands the change would be unlikely to happen in the next 10 years because of the high cost to the taxpayer and the low population of the area.
In the meantime, the spokeswoman said the water met all of the heath-related requirements under the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
“[It] poses no health risk and water is completely safe to drink,” she said.
“Average water hardness in Preston Beach is similar to, or below, that in larger coastal towns where water is also sourced from coastal limestone aquifers [and] Preston Beach’s water supply is further treated to help reduce scaling and calcium build up.”
Preston Beach – Western Australia – Hardness
2007/08: Preston Beach (Western Australia) – Hardness 306mg/L (Highest Detection Only)
2008/09: Preston Beach (Western Australia) – Hardness 310mg/L (max), 301mg/L (mean)
2009/10: Preston Beach (Western Australia) – Hardness 310mg/L (max)
2010/11 Preston Beach (Western Australia) Hardness 310mg/L (max), 300mg/L (av)
2011/12 Preston Beach (Western Australia) Hardness 320mg/L (max), 315mg/L (av)
2013/14 Preston Beach (Western Australia) Hardness 330mg/L (max), 323mg/L (av)
2014/15 Preston Beach (Western Australia) Hardness 320mg/L (max), 313mg/L (mean)
2015/16 Preston Beach (Western Australia) Hardness 330mg/L (max), 293mg/L (mean)
2016/17 Preston Beach (Western Australia) Hardness 340mg/L (max), 325mg/L (mean)
2017/18 Preston Beach (Western Australia) Hardness 330mg/L (max), 325mg/L (mean)
2018/19: Preston Beach (Western Australia) Hardness 330mg/L (max), 325mg/L (mean)
2019/20: Preston Beach (Western Australia) Hardness 330mg/L (max), 323mg/L (mean)
2022/23: Preston Beach (Western Australia) Hardness 330mg/L (max), 323mg/L (mean)
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
Preston Beach – Western Australia – Total Dissolved Solids
2007/08: Preston Beach (Western Australia) – Total Dissolved Solids 756 mg/L (Maximum Level)
2008/09: Preston Beach (Western Australia) – Total Dissolved Solids 762 mg/L (max), 739mg/L (mean)
2009/10: Preston Beach (Western Australia) – Total Dissolved Solids 736 mg/L (max)
2010/11 Preston Beach (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 768mg/L (max), 760mg/L (mean)
2011/12 Preston Beach (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 773mg/L (max), 755mg/L (mean)
2013/14 Preston Beach (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 800mg/L (max), 790mg/L (mean)
2014/15 Preston Beach (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 839mg/L (max), 799mg/L (mean)
2015/16 Preston Beach (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 1030mg/L (max), 853mg/L (mean)
2016/17 Preston Beach (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 804mg/L (max), 783mg/L (mean)
2017/18 Preston Beach (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 841mg/L (max), 811mg/L (mean)
2018/19: Preston Beach (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 818mg/L (max), 802mg/L (mean)
2019/20: Preston Beach (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 821mg/L (max), 806mg/L (mean)
2022/23: Preston Beach (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 806mg/L (max), 787mg/L (mean)
GUIDELINE
“No specific health guideline value is provided for total dissolved solids (TDS), as there are no
health effects directly attributable to TDS. However for good palatability total dissolved solids
in drinking water should not exceed 600 mg/L.
Total dissolved solids (TDS) consist of inorganic salts and small amounts of organic matter that are dissolved in water. Clay particles, colloidal iron and manganese oxides and silica, fine enough to pass through a 0.45 micron filter membrane can also contribute to total dissolved solids.
Total dissolved solids comprise: sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, sulfate, bicarbonate, carbonate, silica, organic matter, fluoride, iron, manganese, nitrate, nitrite and phosphates…” Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011
2015/16 – Preston Beach (Western Australia) – Sodium
2015/16 Preston Beach (Western Australia) Sodium 270mg/L (max), 142mg/L (mean)
should not exceed 180 mg/L….The sodium ion is widespread in water due to the high solubility of sodium salts and the abundance of mineral deposits. Near coastal areas, windborne sea spray can make an important contribution either by fallout onto land surfaces where it can drain to drinking water sources, or from washout by rain. Apart from saline intrusion and natural contamination, water treatment chemicals, domestic water softeners and
sewage effluent can contribute to the sodium content of drinking water.” ADWG 2011
2015/16 – Preston Beach (Western Australia) – Chloride
2015/16 Preston Beach (Western Australia) Chloride 430mg/L (max), 255mg/L (mean)
“Chloride is present in natural waters from the dissolution of salt deposits, and contamination from effluent disposal. Sodium chloride is widely used in the production of industrial chemicals such as caustic soda, chlorine, and sodium chlorite and hypochlorite. Potassium chloride is used in the production of fertilisers.
The taste threshold of chloride in water is dependent on the associated cation but is in the range 200–300 mg/L. The chloride content of water can affect corrosion of pipes and fittings. It can also affect the solubility of metal ions.
In surface water, the concentration of chloride is usually less than 100 mg/L and frequently below 10 mg/L. Groundwater can have higher concentrations, particularly if there is salt water intrusion.
Based on aesthetic considerations, the chloride concentration in drinking water should not exceed 250 mg/L.
No health-based guideline value is proposed for chloride.” 2011 Australian Drinking Water Guidelines