Drinking water quality
As your local water utility, we help safeguard the health of the Tweed community by providing safe drinking water that equals the best quality bottled water. This makes it easy for everyone in the Tweed to Choose Tap.
To uphold safety, we conduct weekly tests for an extensive range of chemical and microbiological particles. Our safety systems including regular monitoring means Tweed tap water consistently meets the highest standards, giving you peace of mind whenever you take a sip.
Our testing is conducted by the NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) accredited Tweed Laboratory Centre.
Check out our latest Water Quality Analysis(PDF, 711KB) (PDF, 115KB). Also, read our Drinking Water Quality Policy(PDF, 137KB) (PDF, 137KB).
Tweed tap water is better than bottled water
Every drop of water that comes out of your tap has been treated at one of our 3 water treatment plants, ensuring the tap water you drink, cook with and bathe in every day is safe.
Compared to the leading bottled water brands in Australia, your tap water boasts lower Sodium content and a high level of minerals important to our health, such as Calcium and Magnesium.
Your tap water also has about half the Chloride of 3 of the major bottled water brands tested.
Here is a summary of Tweed Laboratory Centre test results.
|
Tweed tap water |
Bottled water brand 1 |
Bottled water brand 2 |
Bottled water brand 3 |
Bottled water brand 4 |
| pH |
7.9 |
6.4 |
7.2 |
6.3 |
6.5 |
| Conductivity |
180 |
217 |
370 |
198 |
85 |
| Conversion to total dissolved solids |
115.2 |
138.88 |
236.8 |
126.72 |
54.4 |
| Calcium |
15.5 |
3.5 |
20 |
8 |
3 |
| Magnesium |
4.08 |
1.6 |
18 |
4 |
3.2 |
| Total calcium & magnesium |
19.58 |
5.1 |
38 |
12 |
6.2 |
| Sodium |
14.4 |
36 |
25 |
23 |
8.7 |
| Fluoride |
0.96 |
0.13 |
0.07 |
0.08 |
0.09 |
| Chloride |
20.33 |
42 |
48 |
36 |
8 |
If you are after filtered water, know that you’re already showering in it!
At our water treatment plants, your tap water undergoes a rigorous treatment process that includes advanced ultra filtratration. There, water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane with tiny holes 2,500 times smaller than a human hair. Most holes in home-based water filtration systems are at least twice as big.
This cutting-edge filtratration process removes 99.99 percent of suspended solids, bacteria, parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, as well as particle-bonded viruses.
You can trust the tap water you use every day. There is generally no need to filter it.
If you do use filters at home, make sure you maintain and replace them regularly otherwise they will become ineffective. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Ensuring high-quality drinking water
While bottled water falls under the regulation of Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) as a packaged food product, we hold Tweed tap water to even more rigorous standards.
Our tap water meets the strict Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, as mandated by the NSW Public Health Act and regulatory requirements, as well as our customer expectations. To achieve this, we:
- manage water quality throughout the supply chain from the water catchment areas to our customers
- use a risk-based approach where potential threats to water quality are identified and managed
- regularly test and report on the quality of drinking water
- develop appropriate contingency plans and incident response capability to deal with incidents
- regularly review maintenance and asset management programs.
If, at any time, you feel you have become unwell as a result of drinking Tweed water please contact Council immediately. We have a protocol to minimise any health risk from our drinking water supply which includes contacting all relevant authorities, including the Department of Health.
Odour, taste, colour or hardness change?
Changes in water quality can result in a change of odour, taste, colour or hardness. For further details, click on the following water quality symptoms and contact us if you have any concerns.
Chlorine, bleach, chemical or medicinal taste/odour
Potential causes
- Chlorine is common in most treated water supplies and is used to ensure drinking water does not cause health problems
- Chlorinated water may also contain disinfection by-products, which are formed when chlorine reacts with compounds already in the water. Disinfection by-products have a distinctive odour. The interaction of chlorine and materials such as plastic electric kettles can also cause odours in water
Corrective measures
- Chlorine levels in the Tweed are generally less than 0.6 mg/ L, well below the NHMRC limit of 5mg/L. The concentration of disinfection by products is also monitored to ensure levels meet health guidelines.
- If you are experiencing unusually high levels of chlorine types odours you can contact us for more information.
Sulphurous, decayed, or sewage like taste/odour
Potential causes
- Over time, organic matter (such as hair, soap, and food waste) can accumulate on the walls of the drain and bacteria can grow on these organic deposits. The bacteria can produce a gas which is disturbed when water is used.
- Sulphur compounds in the water supply.
Corrective measures
- Clean and/or flush the drain.
Musty, mouldy, earthy, grassy or fishy taste/odour
Potential causes
- Certain types of algae, fungi, and bacteria growing in the water supply, especially during warm weather.
- Algae can come from the raw water supply or grow within the reticulation network.
Corrective measures
- Council monitors algae levels during the water treatment process and has facilities to remove these substances when required.
- If you wish to remove this type of smell from your water then you can fit a carbon treatment device to your tap.
Petroleum, gasoline, turpentine, fuel-like or solvent-like odour
Potential causes
- Although this problem is rare, it is potentially serious.
- New plastic pipes and plumbing may give a slight taste and odour to water but this should be temporary.
- If polyethylene pipes are used outside there is potential for absorbing hydrocarbons if they come in contact with one another.
Corrective measures
Metallic taste
Potential causes
- Corrosion of iron or copper pipes on your property. High levels of copper can cause short-term health problems like diarrhoea and cramping. Iron has no effect on health.
- Zinc and manganese are less common causes of a metallic taste.
Corrective measures
- The presence of these metals can be confirmed by having the water tested. See Tweed Laboratory Centre for more information.
Other tastes/odours
Potential causes
- Old galvanised pipes inside the customer’s property iron pipes can discolour the water and give it an unpleasant taste.
- Stagnant water laying in pipes for extended periods (for example over a weekend) may be discoloured or have a poor taste at your tap.
Corrective measures
- Normally running the tap for a few minutes will flush this water.
- If the problem persists, contact Council.
Milky, white or cloudy water
Potential causes
- Air bubbles in water caused by a sudden change in water flow or direction in the pipes.
- Not harmful to health.
Corrective measures
- Leave to sit for 2-3 minutes and they should disappear.
Brown, red, orange or yellow water colour
Potential causes
- Sediment (iron, manganese) in the pipe or water main which can be stirred when there is a sudden increase or change in direction of water in the pipes.
- Not harmful to health.
Corrective measures
Green stains or blue water
Potential causes
- Usually copper corrosion from plumbing.
- May be harmful to health.
Corrective measures
White particles
Potential causes
- Calcium and magnesium carbonates which build up internally in hot water pipes and kettles.
- Not harmful to health.
Boil-water alerts
If there is a concern that the water supply has been contaminated, Council in conjunction with the NSW Department of Health, will issue a boil-water alert.
Boiling your water will kill disease-causing organisms.
If a boil-water alert is issued, make sure that drinking water is boiled for at least 3 minutes. Refrigerate the water after boiling.
Uki and Tyalgum water quality
During heavy rain, raw water turbidity creates water treatment inefficiencies and the Uki Water Treatment Plant is switched off until the raw water quality becomes suitable for treatment again. Similar problems occur at times of high algae counts in the raw water.
When this happens, water from the Bray Park supply is tankered to the reservoirs at Uki and/or Tyalgum. Residents may notice a different taste in the water because of the slight difference in raw water supply quality and the treatment processes.
If we need to tanker in water for a long time, Council may implement water restrictions to reduce consumption. When this happens, water carters are no longer permitted to extract water from the Uki supply.
Fluoride
We add fluoride to help protect our children’s teeth. According to the Dental Association of Australia there has been a rise in childhood dental decay. This might be a coincidence but it might be due to the increased consumption of bottled water, which usually does not contain fluoride.
It is NSW Health policy to add fluoride to drinking water, mainly to prevent tooth decay. Consistent with this policy, Council has added fluoride to the Tweed's main water supply since 1976. However, Council's 2 small village water supplies at Tyalgum and Uki are not fluoridated due to their small size.
The addition of fluoride is regulated via the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act, Regulation and Code of Practice. These documents and some useful factsheets can be found on the NSW Health website.
Further information about fluoride can be found on the National Health and Medical Research Council website.
Useful resources
