BOIL WATER ADVISORY 26 September 2022 (Lifted October 3 2022)
Central Highlands Water (CHW), following consultation with the Department of Health, advises that customers in Waubra should boil their drinking water until further notice.
This advisory has been issued following an inspection on Thursday 22 September 2022 of the clear water storage tanks that supply drinking water to Waubra. We found a recently deceased mouse in one of the tanks, which has been removed, however has compromised the drinking water supply in the short term.
22 September 2022: Waubra Clear Water Storage Tanks. A single deceased mouse identified in one storage tank. Informed DH. Deceased mouse removed and verification of typical free chlorine concentrations and other water quality sampling data was confirmed. No adverse microbiological testing results received. An incident reponse team was formed. A rapid risk assessment was conducted to inform the potential public health risk. A precautionary boil water advisory was issued to the Waubra customer base, the tanks were taken out of service and water carting to the network from an alternate supply was implemented as an interim measure. The supply tanks were inspected and a small potential issue with the vermin proofing integrity was identified. The vermin proofing was addressed as a priority. The tanks were dosed with an increased level of chlorine and drained to waste. The tanks were refilled, the distribution network was flushed thoroughly and verification water quality testing performed
at the flushing locations. Protozoa testing was conducted representative of the water in the
storage tanks, and this was confirmed to be clear. The boil water advisory was lifted and a number of further opportunities for improvement were identified as part of the incident debrief.
Waubra (Victoria) – Fluoride
In terms of naturally occurring ‘Calcium Fluoride’, in 2007/8 the towns of Waubra and Learmonth who both source their drinking water from bores recorded Fluoride levels of 2.1mg/L and 1.8mg/L respectively. The highest level recorded in the Northern Territory was 2.1mg/L at Warrabri (Ali Curung) in 2010.
Fluoride: ADWG Guideline: non-fluoridated water 1.5 milligrams per litre of drinking water
Fluoridated water 1.0 milligrams per litre of drinking water (rolling annual average). In Victoria, the Health (Fluoridation) Act 1973 states that the annual average for fluoride in drinking water shall not exceed a level of 1mg/L. It can be added to water supplies through the ‘Flurodose’ process. Fluoride is added to water either as fluosilicic acid (sometimes known as hydrofluosilicic acid) or sodium silicofluoride. It is sourced from superphosphate and is soluble.
Naturally occurring fluoride is almost insoluble and is known as calcium fluoride.
Waubra – Victoria – Hardness (maximum levels)
2008/09: Waubra (Victoria) – Hardness 440mg/L
2009/10: Waubra (Victoria) – Hardness 450mg/L
2010/11: Waubra (Victoria) – Hardness 470mg/L
2011/12 Waubra Hardness 480 mg/L
2012/13 Waubra Hardness 500 mg/L
2013/14: Waubra Hardness 480ug/L
2014/15: Waubra Hardness 480ug/L
2015/16 Waubra Hardness 490mg/L
2016/17: Waubra Hardness 460ug/L
2017/18: Waubra (Victoria) – Hardness 450mg/L
2018/19: Waubra (Victoria) – Hardness 450mg/L
2019/20: Waubra (Victoria) – Hardness 470mg/L
2020/21: Waubra (Victoria) – Hardness 420mg/L (max), 415mg/L (mean)
2021/22: Waubra (Victoria) – Hardness 430mg/L (max), 415mg/L (mean)
2022/23: Waubra (Victoria) – Hardness 420mg/L (max), 408mg/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
Waubra – Victoria – Total Dissolved Solids (Maximum levels)
2009/10: Waubra (Victoria) – Total Dissolved Solids 700 mg/L
2011/12 Waubra Total Dissolved Solids 750mg/L
2012/13 Waubra Total Dissolved Solids 750mg/L
2013/14 Waubra Total Dissolved Solids 700mg/L
2014/15 Waubra Total Dissolved Solids 700mg/L
2015/16 Waubra Total Dissolved Solids 700mg/L
2016/17Waubra Total Dissolved Solids 700mg/L
2017/18: Waubra (Victoria) – Total Dissolved Solids 700 mg/L
2018/19: Waubra (Victoria) – Total Dissolved Solids 700 mg/L, 678mg/L (mean)
2019/20: Waubra (Victoria) – Total Dissolved Solids 700 mg/L (max)
2020/21: Waubra (Victoria) – Total Dissolved Solids 700 mg/L (max), 650 mg/L (mean)
2021/22: Waubra (Victoria) – Total Dissolved Solids 700 mg/L (max), 650 mg/L (mean)
2022/23: Waubra (Victoria) – Total Dissolved Solids 700 mg/L (max), 698 mg/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
2021/22: Waubra (Victoria) – Nickel
2021/22: Waubra (Victoria) – Nickel 0.017mg/L (max), 0.002mg/L (min)
Nickel: ADWG Health Guideline 0.02mg/L. A chemical element and silvery white corrosion resistant metal with a golden tinge. 60% of nickel production is used in nickel steel (particularly stainless steel). In water, mainly a problem with nickel plated fittings. Main releases to the environment are from the burning of fossil fuels and in waste discharges from electroplating industries.