The truth about potable water quality in Australia
It may come as a surprise to you to know that the fact that your drinking water is deemed potable doesn’t mean that it is top quality.
While in Australia we tend to consider ourselves quite lucky in the tap water stakes, the fact is that your glass of water may still contain things that are less than wonderful for your health.
Further, many of us don’t have town-supplied water and instead rely on bores, dams, rivers and rainwater tanks.
Yes, the potable water quality standards Australia has set are pretty good, but are they good enough?
What can be considered potable drinking water?
Potable drinking water is water that is considered adequately safe to be acceptable. Drinking non potable water is, quite simply, likely to make you sick.
Potable water standards do not guarantee you won’t get sick, however. And with something as critical as water safety, it pays to be sure!
What are the Australian water potability standards?
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2011) lay out a collection of non-mandatory standards which aim to ensure consumers get safe, nice looking and tasting water.
The guidelines also aim to make clear the quality of water that is acceptable and how to achieve and assure it.
Microbiological parameters
Drinking water can contain a significant number of microbes which are invisible to the naked eye but are potent enough to cause illness or even death.
The standards around drinking potable water encourage water suppliers (or you, if you take your own water from the environment!) to make sure the water is free from disease-causing microbes.
There are other microbes which can cause a change to the look, taste or odour of the water, or which don’t cause illness in most individuals, and the requirements around these may be much lower.
Chemical parameters
Similarly, standards regarding the chemical parameters of your drinking water are largely focused on eliminating the dangerous elements. This is all very well but doesn’t necessarily go far enough.
For example, Australian tap water may be very hard, containing deposits of calcium which build up in your appliances and pipes when the water is heated. It also makes soap less effective, causing build ups on your hair and skin.
Drinking potable water is crucial, but there is more to the water we use and consume than is considered by local councils.
Radiological parameters
Radionuclides are radioactive atoms that can be found in drinking water, either from naturally occurring sources or human activities, like the presence of a nuclear power station nearby. They have all the nasty health impacts we normally associate with radiation.
Potable water standards in Australia seek to minimise exposure to these atoms by calculating a maximum ‘acceptable’ dose and aiming to stay beneath it.
How to ensure your potable water meets the Australian standards
If you are drinking water supplied by your local council in Australia, you can be reasonably sure that your water meets Australian standards.
If, however, you draw water from a bore or other natural source, even a rainwater tank, it is very important to have your water tested for possible contaminants. And keep in mind that as an infrequently monitored source, things can change quickly.
For the best peace of mind, install a filtered tap water system.
Do home water filters or filter taps help?
Yes, drinking filtered tap water is much safer. If you think you and your family deserve better than the minimum standards in drinking water, or you are concerned about the safety of your water supply, contact us today.
