Bundaberg (Queensland) 2013/23. Lead, Lanthanum, E.coli
13/6/23 Bundaberg (Queensland) E.coli (Peatey Street)
The detection of E. coli was recorded in the reservoir of the Bundaberg – Peatey Street GWTP prior to entering the supply network. A chlorine residual of 0.78mg/L was recorded. Operators attended site and isolated the supply to the reticulation network. An alternate supply was provided for the service area from the Bundaberg – Heaps Street GWTP. Council assessed the chlorine residual within the alternate Heaps St supply to ensure adequate disinfection within the reticulation network, readings ranged between 0.88mg/L to 1.07mg/L. A resample was collected and reported no detection of E. coli. Peatey St GWTP remained offline while pipe repair works were undertaken
and the alternate supply from Heaps St GWTP remained in place. Closure advice for incident DWI-476-23-10306 was received from QWSR on 15/09/2023.
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
Bundaberg (Queensland) – Lead
2013/14: Bundaberg Water Service Area – Lead 0.014mg/L (highest level), 0.002mg/L (av.)
2015/16: Bundaberg Water Service Area – Lead 0.01mg/L (highest level)
2016/2017: Bundaberg Lead 0.007mg/L (max)
2018/19: Bundaberg Water Service Area – Lead 0.017mg/L (highest level), 0.002mg/L (av)
2022/23: Bundaberg Works Depot GWTP
An exceedance of the Lead ADWG Health Limit of 0.01 mg/L was detected at an individual sample site within the Bundaberg – Works Depot GWTP supply network as part of Council routine metals sampling program – BL-K Metals. An additional sample site within this same supply network reported a Lead level of <0.001mg/L. A mains flush was conducted at the sample location. The resample analysis reported a Lead level below the ADWG Health Limit. Closure advice for incident DWI-476-22-09784 was received
from QWSR on 23/12/2022
Bundaberg Regional Council Drinking Water Quality Management Plan 2022/23
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.”
6/9/22 – Bundaberg (Queensland) – Lanthanum
An exceedance of the Lanthanum ADWG Health Limit of 0.002 mg/L was detected at an individual sample site within the Bundaberg – Works Depot GWTP supply network as part of Council routine metals sampling program – BL-K Metals. An additional sample site within this same supply network reported a Lanthanum level of <0.001mg/L. A mains flush was conducted at the sample location. The resample analysis reported a Lanthanum level below the ADWG Health Limit. The investigation report for incident DWI-476-
22-09785 was submitted to QWSR on 20/10/2022.
GUIDELINE
Based on human health considerations, the concentration of lanthanum in drinking water should not exceed 0.002 mg/L.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION Lanthanum is an element in the rare earth group (also known as lanthanides group) that can enter water via run-off from agricultural soil where it has been used as fertiliser, from the weathering of rock, from specific discharges or use as a phosphate binder, and from leaching from the tailings of rare earth mining…
TYPICAL VALUES IN AUSTRALIAN DRINKING WATER Australian drinking water supplies have not been routinely monitored for lanthanum. Limited analytical results from a small number of water sources in Australia indicate levels orders of magnitude lower than when lanthanum is applied for phosphate control. The National Industrial Chemical Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) recommends regular monitoring of Australian drinking water reservoirs if they have been subject to the addition of a lanthanum-based water treatment product (NICNAS 2014). In this circumstance, as part of a drinking water supply system assessment, consideration should be given to the possibility of accumulation of lanthanum in the water or sediment following multiple applications of a lanthanum-based product.
In Australia, NICNAS reviewed the literature on lanthanum in its Secondary Notification Assessment for PhoslockTM (NICNAS 2014).