2017/21 – Mendooran (New South Wales) – Nickel, Hardness, Iron, Manganese, Chloride, Inadequate Chlorine

Mendooran (NSW) Nickel

5/10/21: Mendooran (NSW) Nickel 0.0291mg/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.

Drinking Water Quality Management Plan Logan City Council 2018/19

Mendooran – (New South Wales) – Hardness

10/3/21: Mendooran (New South Wales) – Hardness 236.5mg/L

26/3/19: Mendooran (New South Wales) – Hardness 224.6mg/L

25/9/18: Mendooran (New South Wales) – Hardness 204.3mg/L

22/5/18: Mendooran (New South Wales) – Hardness 311.5mg/L

12/9/17: Mendooran (New South Wales) – Hardness 274mg/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

Mendooran (NSW) – Iron

1/4/20: Mendooran (NSW) – Iron 0.82mg/L

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

Mendooran (NSW) Total Dissolved Solids

26/3/19: Mendooran (NSW) Total Dissolved Solids 637mg/L

22/5/18: Mendooran (NSW) Total Dissolved Solids 660mg/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.

Total dissolved solids comprise: sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, sulfate, bicarbonate, carbonate, silica, organic matter, fluoride, iron, manganese, nitrate, nitrite and phosphates…” Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011

Mendooran (NSW) – Chloride

26/3/19: Mendooran (NSW) Chloride 241mg/L

22/5/18: Mendooran (NSW) Chloride 273mg/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.

1 June 2017 – Mendooran (New South Wales)

Boil Water Alert

Council wishes to advise the residents of Mendooran that there are low and inconsistent chlorine levels in the town water mains.

There is concern that bacteria that may be present in the water is not being adequately

disinfected.

As a precaution you are advised that water used for consumption should be brought to a rolling boil.

Water should then be allowed to cool and be stored in a clean container with a lid and refrigerated.

Boiled or bottled water should be used for:

Drinking, cooking, washing uncooked foods (such as seafood or salads),  making ice, personal hygiene, pets’ drinking water, washing hands, cleaning teeth, gargling, face washing of young children, washing toys and children’s utensils.

Dishes should be washed in hot soapy water or in a dishwasher. Children should take boiled or bottled water to school.

This advice should be followed until further notice.

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55b839c6e4b0a286c4c4a481/t/55f25fe9e4b01ed5bc416f51/1441947625875/SOE+2011+Report_Part2.pdf

Monitoring of the Mendooran drinking water had shown the potential risk to residents from both a health perspective and reliability of drinking water. The water quality regularly failed to meet current Australian Drinking Water Guidelines with respect to turbidity, colour, iron and manganese. The regular presence of coliforms and occasional presence of E. coli required a permanent boil alert for the drinking of town water. In addition, all households of Mendooran utilise individual septic systems for sewerage services. This relies on households maintaining their own septic systems, which has been identified as a potential risk for leakage of contaminants into the waterways…