2008/9: Boort (Victoria) – E.coli
2008/9 Boort E.coli 1/100mL (98.1% samples no e.coli ) (1 positive)
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
Boort (Victoria) – THM’s (highest level)
2010/11 Boort THM’s 0.28mg/L
2011/12 Boort THM’s 0.32mg/L
Trihalomethanes Australian Guideline Level 250μg/L (0.25mg/L)
Why and how are THMs formed?
“When chlorine is added to water with organic material, such as algae, river weeds, and decaying leaves, THMs are formed. Residual chlorine molecules react with this harmless organic material to form a group of chlorinated chemical compounds, THMs. They are tasteless and odourless, but harmful and potentially toxic. The quantity of by-products formed is determined by several factors, such as the amount and type of organic material present in water, temperature, pH, chlorine dosage, contact time available for chlorine, and bromide concentration in the water. The organic matter in water mainly consists of a) humic substance, which is the organic portion of soil that remains after prolonged microbial decomposition formed by the decay of leaves, wood, and other vegetable matter; and b) fulvic acid, which is a water soluble substance of low molecular weight that is derived from humus”. Source: https://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/index.cfm
Boort – Victoria – Iron
2007/8: Boort (Victoria) – Iron 0.34mg/L (max)
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
2009/10 – Boort Victoria) – Turbidity
2009/10 – Boort (Victoria) – Turbidity 23NTU (max)
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
Boort (Victoria) Total Dissolved Solids
2010/11 Boort Total Dissolved Solids 1400mg/L
2011/12 Boort Total Dissolved Solids 1500mg/L
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.
Boort (Victoria) Hardness
2011/12 Boort Hardness 240mg/L
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
Boort (Victoria) – Chloride
2011/12 Boort Chloride 310mg/L
“Chloride is present in natural waters from the dissolution of salt deposits, and contamination from effluent disposal. Sodium chloride is widely used in the production of industrial chemicals such as caustic soda, chlorine, and sodium chlorite and hypochlorite. Potassium chloride is used in the production of fertilisers.
The taste threshold of chloride in water is dependent on the associated cation but is in the range 200–300 mg/L. The chloride content of water can affect corrosion of pipes and fittings. It can also affect the solubility of metal ions.
In surface water, the concentration of chloride is usually less than 100 mg/L and frequently below 10 mg/L. Groundwater can have higher concentrations, particularly if there is salt water intrusion.
Based on aesthetic considerations, the chloride concentration in drinking water should not exceed 250 mg/L.
No health-based guideline value is proposed for chloride.” 2011 Australian Drinking Water Guidelines
Boort (Victoria) Nickel
10/7/18 Boort Nickel 0.099mg/L
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.
A sample, collected from the Boort Water Sampling Locality (WSL) as part of Coliban Water’s sampling program, had an elevated level of nickel (0.099 mg/L), exceeding the health-based guideline value for nickel (0.02mg/L) in the ADWG. The stainless steel fittings that are used to collect water samples are flamed to disinfect the fittings prior to collection of samples for
microbiological water quality analysis, which could be the most probable cause for the presence
of nickel because stainless steel contains a certain percentage of nickel and flaming might have
caused the leaching of small amounts of nickel.
Water samples were collected from the Boort water distribution network including the location,
where elevated nickel result was reported, for testing of relevant water quality parameters. The
nickel results for the follow-up tests were well below the healthbased guideline value in the
ADWG, indicating that there were no long-term, systemic issues related to nickel in Boort.
A separate set of fittings are now being used for collection of samples for microbiological water
quality analysis to eliminate the possibility of nickel leaching from the fittings. It should be noted that no elevated nickel results have been recorded since this change was implemented to the water sampling practice.
Boort (Victoria) – Chlorine
10/6/20: Boort: Chlorine 5.7mg/L (max)
A routine sample collected from the Boort Clear Water Storage (CWS) tanks outlet on 10 June 2020 returned with total chlorine result of 5.7 mg/L, exceeding the health-based guideline value (5.0 mg/L) specified in the ADWG.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Chlorine dissociates in water to form free chlorine, which consists of aqueous molecular chlorine, hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ion. Chlorine and hypochlorites are toxic to microorganisms and are used extensively as disinfectants for drinking water supplies. Chlorine is also used to disinfect sewage and wastewater, swimming pool water, in-plant supplies, and industrial cooling water.
Chlorine has an odour threshold in drinking water of about 0.6 mg/L, but some people are particularly sensitive and can detect amounts as low as 0.2 mg/L. Water authorities may need to exceed the odour threshold value of 0.6 mg/L in order to maintain an effective disinfectant residual.
In the food industry, chlorine and hypochlorites are used for general sanitation and for odour control. Large amounts of chlorine are used in the production of industrial and domestic disinfectants and bleaches, and it is used in the synthesis of a large range of chemical compounds.
Free chlorine reacts with ammonia and certain nitrogen compounds to form combined chlorine. With ammonia, chlorine forms chloramines (monochloramine, dichloramine and nitrogen trichloride or trichloramine) (APHA 2012). Chloramines are used for disinfection but are weaker oxidising agents than free chlorine.
Free chlorine and combined chlorine may be present simultaneously (APHA 2012). The term totalchlorine refers to the sum of free chlorine and combined chlorine present in a sample.
Chlorine (Free) ADWG Guideline: 5mg/L (Chlorine in chloraminated supplies 4.1mg/L). Chlorine dissociates in water to form free chlorine, which consists of aqueous molecular chlorine, hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ion.
Chlorine (Total) ADWG Guideline 5mg/L (chloraminated supplies 4.1mg/L): The term total chlorine refers to the sum of free chlorine and combined chlorine present in a sample
Boort (Victoria) – Taste and Odour
19/7/22: • A range of organisms that grow naturally in water bodies can produce substances that can create unpleasant tastes and odours (T&O) in drinking water supplies.
• The most common of these substances are geosmin and 2- Methylisoborneol (MIB).
• While these substances create unpleasant tastes and odours in drinking water, they do not pose a risk to public health.
• Elevated concentrations of these T&O compounds, but mainly Geosmin, were impacting the Boort Basin (Boort Water Treatment Plant (WTP) source water).
• The concentration of T&O compounds in the raw water exceeded the capacity of the treatment process to fully remove them.
• The treated water leaving the WTP containing geosmin at a concentration above the T&O threshold (10 ng/L), that is mentioned in the ADWG.
• This occurred on a few occasions during July and August 2022.
Corrective actions:
• The plant consists of a Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) dosing system to reduce T&O compounds, which, at the time, was off-line and being repaired.
• Management of the T&O issue was achieved by completing repairs to the PAC dosing system and ensuring it was optimised.
3/11/22: • Elevated concentrations of Taste & Odour (T&O) compounds, but mainly geosmin, impacted the Boort Basin, which was the source water for Boort Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at this time.
• The concentration of T&O compounds in the raw water exceeded the capacity of the treatment process to fully remove them.
• The treated water leaving the WTP exceeding the T&O threshold (10 ng/L), mentioned in the ADWG.
Corrective actions:
• The WTP treatment process (PAC) was optimised.
• The community was informed via Coliban Water’s website, a media release and social media.
• As the aesthetically pleasing taste of the drinking water was impacted, a drinking water supply trailer was located in the town for the general public to use, with 24 hours access.
Preventative measures
• Investigations were undertaken to identify the source, and it is believed to be from a cyanobacterial (BGA) bloom.
• The raw water basin was treated to reduce BGA cells numbers and the geosmin concentration.