Australian Drinking Water Map

Numurkah (Victoria) – Blue Green Algae (Aphanizomenonaceae family)

In accordance with the Victorian Blue-Green Algae Circular, GVW notified DoH in February 2023
of a significant increase in BGA in the raw water at the Numurkah WTP. Toxin analysis, including
qPCR toxin gene copies, was undertaken to classify the toxicity of the bloom due to the
Laboratory identification of the dominate species in the Aphanizomenonaceae family, a
potentially toxic group. All samples were negative for cyanobacterial toxins and toxin genes,
specifically Cylindrospermopsin and Deoxy-cylindrospermopsin. Results were consistent with
blooms in recent years that had been misidentified as C. ovalisporum. It is possible that like the
previous blooms, the environmentally plastic species Dolichospermum brachiatum dominated
the bloom, but lacked the diacritical features to classify to species resulting in the microbiologists  only reporting to the family group.

Numurkah (Victoria) Lead

2019/20: Numurkah Lead 0.008mg/L (max), 0.003(av.)

Lead Guideline reduced from 0.01mg/L to 0.005mg/L in June 2025. “The concentration of lead in water within premises may be higher, especially in older buildings, due to contact of the water with lead-containing plumbing products (enHealth 2021). A review found several Australian and international studies that detected up to 0.162 mg/L of lead in drinking water due to leaching from lead-containing plumbing materials including taps and lead service lines, suggesting that leaching of lead from lead-containing plumbing materials can be substantial (SLR 2023)… Based on health considerations, the concentration of lead in drinking water should not exceed 0.005 mg/L.”

Numurkah (Victoria) – Trichloroacetic Acid

2010/11: Numurkah 0.140mg/L Trichloroacetic Acid

Australian Guidelines Trichloroacetic Acid 0.100mg/L

“Chloroacetic acids are produced in drinking water as by-products of the reaction between chlorine and naturally occurring humic and fulvic acids. Concentrations reported overseas range up to 0.16mg/L and are typically about half the chloroform concentration. The chloroacetic acids are used commercially as reagents or intermediates in the preparation of a wide variety of chemicals. Monochloroacetic acid can be used as a pre-emergent herbicide, dichloroacetic acid as an ingredient in some pharmaceutical products, and trichloroacetic acid as a herbicide, soil sterilant and antiseptic.” Australian Drinking Water Guidelines – National Health and Medical Research Council…

There are no epidemiological studies of TCA carcinogenicity in humans. Most of the human health data for chlorinated acetic acids concern components of complex mixtures of water disinfectant by-products. These complex mixtures of disinfectant by-products have been associated with increased potential for bladder, rectal, and colon cancer in humans [reviewed by Boorman et al. (1999); Mills et al. (1998)].” Ref: tmp/Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) CASRN 76-03-9 IRIS US EPA.htm

Numukah (Victoria) – Chloral Hydrate

Numurkah 0.043mg/L Goulburn Valley Water Chloral Hydrate 2011/12

Numurkah 0.051mg/L Goulburn Valley Water Chloral Hydrate 2010/11

2004 Australian Drinking Water Guideline: Trichloroacetaldehyde (chloral hydrate): 0.02mg/L

2011 Australian Drinking Water Guideline: Trichloroacetaldehyde (chloral hydrate): 0.1mg/L

“Chloral hydrate is a disinfection by-product, arising from chlorination of water containing naturally occurring organic material (NOM). Chloral hydrate has only been detected by Goulburn Valley Water since changing to a new contract testing laboratory in November 2007. The Department of Health is currently conducting a study into the detection of chloral hydrate across Victoria.”

2010/12 + 2019/23: Numurkah (Victoria) – Blue Green Algae, Chloral Hydrate, Trichloroacetic Acid, Lead

in , ,
Numurkah (Victoria) – Blue Green Algae (Aphanizomenonaceae family) In accordance with the Victorian Blue-Green Algae Circular, GVW notified DoH in February 2023 of a significant increase in BGA in the raw water at the Numurkah WTP. Toxin analysis, including qPCR toxin gene copies, was undertaken to classify the toxicity of the bloom due to the Laboratory identification of the dominate species in the Aphanizomenonaceae family, a potentially toxic group. All samples were negative for cyanobacterial toxins and toxin genes, specifically Cylindrospermopsin and Deoxy-cylindrospermopsin. Results were consistent with blooms in recent years that had been misidentified as C. ovalisporum. It is possible that like the previous blooms, the environmentally plastic species Dolichospermum brachiatum dominated the bloom, but lacked the diacritical features to classify to species resulting in the microbiologists  only reporting to the family group. Numurkah (Victoria) Lead 2019/20: Numurkah Lead 0.008mg/L (max), 0.003(av.) Lead Guideline reduced from 0.01mg/L to 0.005mg/L in June 2025. “The concentration of lead in water within premises may be higher, especially in older buildings, due to contact of the water with lead-containing plumbing products (enHealth 2021). A review found several Australian and international studies that detected up to 0.162 mg/L of lead in drinking water due to leaching from lead-containing plumbing materials including taps and lead service lines, suggesting that leaching of lead from lead-containing plumbing materials can be substantial (SLR 2023)… Based on health considerations, the concentration of lead in drinking water should not exceed 0.005 mg/L.” Numurkah (Victoria) – Trichloroacetic Acid 2010/11: Numurkah 0.140mg/L Trichloroacetic Acid Australian Guidelines Trichloroacetic Acid 0.100mg/L “Chloroacetic acids are produced in drinking water as by-products of the reaction between chlorine and naturally occurring humic and fulvic acids. Concentrations reported overseas range up to 0.16mg/L and are typically about half the chloroform concentration. The chloroacetic acids are used commercially as reagents or intermediates in the preparation of a wide variety of chemicals. Monochloroacetic acid can be used as a pre-emergent herbicide, dichloroacetic acid as an ingredient in some pharmaceutical products, and trichloroacetic acid as a herbicide, soil sterilant and antiseptic.” Australian Drinking Water Guidelines – National Health and Medical Research Council… There are no epidemiological studies of TCA carcinogenicity in humans. Most of the human health data for chlorinated acetic acids concern components of complex mixtures of water disinfectant by-products. These complex mixtures of disinfectant by-products have been associated with increased potential for bladder, rectal, and colon cancer in humans [reviewed by Boorman et al. (1999); Mills et al. (1998)].” Ref: tmp/Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) CASRN 76-03-9 IRIS US EPA.htm Numukah (Victoria) – Chloral Hydrate Numurkah 0.043mg/L Goulburn Valley Water Chloral Hydrate 2011/12 Numurkah 0.051mg/L Goulburn Valley Water Chloral Hydrate 2010/11 2004 Australian Drinking Water Guideline: Trichloroacetaldehyde (chloral hydrate): 0.02mg/L 2011 Australian Drinking Water Guideline: Trichloroacetaldehyde (chloral hydrate): 0.1mg/L “Chloral hydrate is a disinfection by-product, arising from chlorination of water containing naturally occurring organic material (NOM). Chloral hydrate has only been detected by Goulburn Valley Water since changing to a new contract testing laboratory in November 2007. The Department of Health is currently conducting a study into the detection of chloral hydrate across Victoria.”