June 2009 + 2021/23: Busselton (Western Australia) – Iron, Bromide, Radiation
Busselton (Western Australia) – Iron
2022/2023: Busselton (Western Australia) – Iron 0.41mg/L (max in distribution water)
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
2021/23 Busselton (Western Australia) – Bromide 4.1mg/L
2021/22: Bromide 4.1mg/L
No Guideline Limit for Bromide is listed under the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
Inorganic bromide was evaluated in 1966 by JMPR, which recommended an ADI of 0–1 mg/kg body weight, based on a minimum pharmacologically effective dosage in humans of about 900 mg of potassium bromide, equivalent to 600 mg of bromide ion. The JMPR ADI was reaffirmed with new data in 1988….
The upper limit of the ADI of 0–0.4 mg/kg body weight yields an acceptable total daily intake of 24 mg/person for a 60 kg person. Assuming a relative source contribution of 50%, the drinking-water value for a 60 kg adult consuming 2 litres/day would be up to 6 mg/l; for a 10 kg child consuming 1 litre/day, the value would be up to 2 mg/l. However, the dietary bromide contribution for a 10 kg child would probably be less than that for an adult. These are reasonably conservative values, and they are unlikely to be encountered in drinking-water supplies.
World Health Organisation 2009. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/wash-documents/wash-chemicals/bromide-chemical-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=2f0b1373_4
3/6/09: Busselton (Western Australia) Groundwater Radiation at some samples points breaching ADWG
Plant 1
Sample Point Plant 1 BWB 19 (Leederville Aquifer) 0.807 (Bq/L)
Distribution Point Plant 1 0.727 (Bq/L)
Plant 2
Sample Point Plant 2 BWB 15 1.086 (Bq/L)
Distribution Point Plant 2 0.362 (Bq/L)
Plant 3
Sample Point Plant 3 BWB 12 (Leederville Aquifer) 0.832 (Bq/L)
Sample Point Plant 3 BWB 16 0.623 (Bq/L)
Distribution Point Plant 3 0.091 (Bq/L)
Plant 4
Distribution Point Plant 4 1.168 (Bq/L)
“7.5.3 AVERAGE DOSE OF RADIATION
The dose of radiation received varies significantly between individuals and communities, and depends on locality, lifestyle, diet and type of dwelling. The global average for the individual dose of radiation from natural sources has been estimated to be 2.4 mSv/year (UNSCEAR 2000). Australian data suggest that the average annual dose in this country may be slightly lower, at approximately 2 mSv/year. Of this annual dose, less than 10 per cent comes from ingestion of food and drinking water containing radionuclides
from the natural uranium and thorium series (Webb et al. 1999)….
There are no specific reference levels set for specific alpha or beta emitting radionuclides. Specific alpha or beta emitting radionuclides should be determined if the gross alpha screening value in drinking water exceeds 0.5 Bq/L, or if the gross beta screening value (with the contribution of potassium-40 subtracted) exceeds 0.5 Bq/L, or if there is a specific reason
to analyse for individual radionuclides.” Australian Drinking Water Guidelines