2008/12 + 2016/21 – Cardigan Village (Victoria) – E.coli, Lead, Hardness, Turbidity, Iron

Cardigan Village (Victoria): E.coli
16 March 2009 – Cardigan Village Tank, Cardigan Village. (Ballarat System). E. coli – 2 orgs / 100 mL. Tanks disinfected using chlorine and resampled. No E. coli detected in resamples. DHS informed of initial and resample results. (Central Highlands Water Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2008-9)
29 March 2010 – Cardigan Village Customer Tap. (Ballarat System). E. coli – 1 orgs/100mL. Further resampling and site investigation. No E. coli detected in resamples. Informed DH of initial and resample results. (Central Highlands Water Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2009-10)

9th July 2012 (9 Days) Cardigan Village Tank (Ballarat System) E. coli – 2 org/100mL Cardigan/Cardigan Village Reticulation (Ballarat System)

“Coliforms are Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacteria that are capable of aerobic and facultative anaerobic growth in the presence of bile salts or other surface active agents with similar growth-inhibiting properties. They are found in large numbers in the faeces of humans and other warm-blooded animals, but many species also occur in the environment.

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 2011

Cardigan Village  (Victoria) – Lead

2008/9: Cardigan Village (Victoria) – Lead 0.011mg/L (Highest Detection)

2020/21: Cardigan Village (Victoria) – Lead 0.007mg/L (Highest Detection)

Lead Australian Drinking Water Guideline 0.01mg/L

“… Lead can be present in drinking water as a result of dissolution from natural sources, or from household plumbing systems containing lead. These may include lead in pipes, or in solder used to seal joints. The amount of lead dissolved will depend on a number of factors including pH, water hardness and the standing time of the water.

Lead is the most common of the heavy metals and is mined widely throughout the world. It is used in the production of lead acid batteries, solder, alloys, cable sheathing, paint pigments, rust inhibitors, ammunition, glazes and plastic stabilisers. The organo-lead compounds tetramethyl and tetraethyl lead are used extensively as anti-knock and lubricating compounds in gasoline…

Cardigan Village – Victoria – Hardness

2008/09: Cardigan Village (Victoria) – Hardness 230mg/L (Highest Detection Only)

2009/10: Cardigan Village (Victoria) – Hardness 210mg/L (Highest Detection Only)

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

Cardigan Village – Victoria – Turbidity

2009/10: Cardigan Village – Turbidity 9.7 NTU

2016/17: Cardigan Village – Turbidity 11NTU

Chlorine-resistant pathogen reduction: Where filtration alone is used as the water treatment
process to address identified risks from Cryptosporidium and Giardia, it is essential
that filtration is optimised and consequently the target for the turbidity of water leaving
individual filters should be less than 0.2 NTU, and should not exceed 0.5 NTU at any time
Disinfection: A turbidity of less than 1 NTU is desirable at the time of disinfection with
chlorine unless a higher value can be validated in a specific context.

Aesthetic: Based on aesthetic considerations, the turbidity should not exceed 5 NTU at the
consumer’s tap.

Cardigan Village –  Victoria – Iron

2009/10: Cardigan Village (Victoria)  – Iron 0.61mg/L (Highest level only)

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