2017/18 – Bronte Park (Tasmania) – E.coli, Trichloroacetic Acid, Turbidity

Boil Water Alert

Bronte Park (Tasmania) – E.coli

2016/17: 10 E.coli non compliances

E. coli: 28/05/2018 Detection of 1 MPN/100mL at BPSTE02
E. coli 04/06/2018 Detection of 4.1 MPN/100mL at BPSTE02
E. coli 12/06/2018 Detection of 3 MPN/100mL at BPSTE02
E. coli 18/06/2018 Detection of 3.1 MPN/100mL at BPSTE02
E. coli 25/06/2018 10:48 Detection of 1 MPN/100mL at BPSTE03 (investigation sample)
E. coli 25/06/2018 10:50 Detection of 6.3 MPN/100mL at BPSTE03 (investigation sample)
E. coli 25/06/2018 10:57 Detection of 6.3 MPN/100mL at BPSTE02

Escherichia coli should not be detected in any 100 mL sample of drinking water. If detected
in drinking water, immediate action should be taken including investigation of potential
sources of faecal contamination.

“Coliforms are Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacteria that are capable of aerobic and facultative anaerobic growth in the presence of bile salts or other surface active agents with similar growth-inhibiting properties. They are found in large numbers in the faeces of humans and other warm-blooded animals, but many species also occur in the environment.

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 2011

2016/17 – Bronte Park (Tasmania) – Trichloroacetic Acid

2016/17 Bronte Park (Tasmania) Trichloroacetic Acid 0.19mg/L

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

2017/18 – Bronte Park (Tasmania) – Turbidity

2017/18 – Bronte Park  (Tasmania) – Turbidity 15.4 NTU (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