Salmon Gums (Western Australia) – Hardness

2008/09: Salmon Gums (Western Australia) Hardness 342mg/L (max), 336mg/L (mean)

2010/11 Salmon Gums (Western Australia) Hardness 360mg/L (max), 240mg/L (mean)

2011/12 Salmon Gums (Western Australia) Hardness 390mg/L (max), 385mg/L (mean)

2013/14 Salmon Gums (Western Australia) Hardness 360mg/L (max), 360mg/L (mean)

2019/20: Salmon Gums (Western Australia) Hardness 360mg/L (max), 298mg/L (mean)

2022/23: Salmon Gums (Western Australia) Hardness 380mg/L (max), 360mg/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.”

Salmon Gums – Western Australia – Total Dissolved Solids

2008/09: Salmon Gums (Western Australia) – Total Dissolved Solids 796mg/L (max), 794mg/L (mean)

2010/11 Salmon Gums (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 853vmg/L (max), 610mg/L (mean)

2011/12 Salmon Gums (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 902mg/L (max), 891mg/L (mean)

2013/14 Salmon Gums (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids  852mg/L (max), 851mg/L (mean)

2019/20: Salmon Gums (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 865mg/L (max), 718mg/L (mean)

2022/23: Salmon Gums (Western Australia) Total Dissolved Solids 830mg/L (max), 822mg/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

Salmon Gums (Western Australia) – pH (alkaline)

2009-10: Salmon Gums (Western Australia) 8.54 pH units (av)

2014/15 Salmon Gums (Western Australia) pH 8.56 (av)

2015/16 Salmon Gums (Western Australia) pH 8.57 (av)

2016/17 Salmon Gums (Western Australia) pH 8.51 (av)

Based on the need to reduce corrosion and encrustation in pipes and fittings, the pH of
drinking water should be between 6.5 and 8.5.

New concrete tanks and cement-mortar lined pipes can significantly increase pH and
a value up to 9.2 may be tolerated, provided monitoring indicates no deterioration in
microbiological quality.

pH is a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration of water. It is measured on a logarithmic scale from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral, greater than 7 is alkaline, and less than 7 is acidic.

One of the major objectives in controlling pH is to minimise corrosion and encrustation in pipes and fittings. Corrosion can be reduced by the formation of a protective layer of calcium carbonate on the inside of the pipe or fitting, and the formation of this layer is affected by pH, temperature, the availability of calcium (hardness) and carbon dioxide. If the water is too alkaline (above pH 8.5), the rapid deposition and build-up of calcium carbonate that can result may eventually block the pipe.