2016/17 – Millstream North (Queensland) – Iron, Colour

Millstream North –  Queensland – Iron

2016/17: Millstream North (Queensland)  – Iron 1.16mg/L (Highest level only – Reticulation), average 0.7555 av

2016/17: Millstream North & South (Queensland)  – Iron 0.806mg/L (Highest level only – Reticulation)

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

Millstream North (Queensland) – Colour

2016/17: Millstream North (Queensland) – Colour 58 Pt/Co Units (max), 34 Pt/Co (mean)

Based on aesthetic considerations, true colour in drinking water should not exceed 15 HU.

“… Colour is generally related to organic content, and while colour derived from natural sources such as humic and fulvic acids is not a health consideration, chlorination of such water can produce a variety of chlorinated organic compounds as by-products (see Section 6.3.2 on disinfection by-products). If the colour is high at the time of disinfection, then the water should be checked for disinfection by-products. It should be noted, however, that low colour at the time of disinfection does not necessarily mean that the concentration of disinfection by-products will be low…