Watheroo – Western Australia – Hardness

2007/08: Watheroo (Western Australia) – Hardness 223mg/L (Highest Detection Only)

2008/09: Watheroo (Western Australia) – Hardness 320mg/L (max), 253mg/L (mean)

2010/11 Watheroo (Western Australia) Hardness 250mg/L (max), 240mg/L (mean)

2011/12 Watheroo (Western Australia) Hardness 250mg/L (max), 243mg/L (mean)

2013/14 Watheroo (Western Australia) Hardness 250mg/L (max), 245mg/L (mean)

2014/15 Watheroo (Western Australia) Hardness 270mg/L (max), 248mg/L (mean)

2015/16 Watheroo (Western Australia) Hardness 240mg/L (max), 238mg/L (mean)

2016/17 Watheroo (Western Australia) Hardness 290mg/L (max), 265mg/L (mean)

2017/18 Watheroo (Western Australia) Hardness 270mg/L (max), 260mg/L (mean)

2018/19: Watheroo (Western Australia) Hardness 260mg/L (max), 258mg/L (mean)

2019/20: Watheroo (Western Australia) Hardness 260mg/L (max), 260mg/L (mean)

2022/23: Watheroo (Western Australia) Hardness 270mg/L (max), 263mg/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

Watheroo – Western Australia – Total Dissolved Solids

2008/09: Watheroo (Western Australia) – Total Dissolved Solids 764mg/L (max), 610mg/L (mean)

2013/14 Watheroo (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 609mg/L (max), 599mg/L (av)

2014/15 Watheroo (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 644mg/L (max), 609mg/L (mean)

2015/16 Watheroo (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 613mg/L (max), 603mg/L (mean)

2016/17 Watheroo (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 664mg/L (max), 637mg/L (mean)

2017/18 Watheroo (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 651mg/L (max), 638mg/L (mean)

2018/19: Watheroo (Western Australia)  Total Dissolved Solids 641mg/L (max), 635mg/L (mean)

2019/20: Watheroo (Western Australia)  Total Dissolved Solids 651mg/L (max), 643mg/L (mean)

2022/23: Watheroo (Western Australia)  Total Dissolved Solids 655mg/L (max), 644mg/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.

Watheroo – Western Australia – Iron

2010/11 Watheroo (Western Australia) Iron 0.78mg/L (max), 0.246mg/L (av)

Based on aesthetic considerations (precipitation of iron from solution and taste),
the concentration of iron in drinking water should not exceed 0.3 mg/L.
No health-based guideline value has been set for iron.

Iron has a taste threshold of about 0.3 mg/L in water, and becomes objectionable above 3 mg/L. High iron concentrations give water an undesirable rust-brown appearance and can cause staining of laundry and plumbing fittings, fouling of ion-exchange softeners, and blockages in irrigation systems. Growths of iron bacteria, which concentrate iron, may cause taste and odour problems and lead to pipe restrictions, blockages and corrosion. ADWG 2011