Water monitoring and treatment
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines stipulate how often drinking water is required to be tested. Hobart Water monitors and tests the bulk water supply system at a much higher frequency than the guidelines stipulate.
Water Monitoring
At Hobart Water, water is monitored in two ways: remotely using a computerised monitoring system which operates 24 hours a day; and daily checks performed by trained personnel at a range of locations.
At almost every major stage of the journey, Hobart Water's expert team of water specialists monitors and tests the quality of the water. One of the state's most sophisticated computerised control systems monitors rainfalls, flows and water quality at the capture points.
Over fifty raw and potable (water after treatment) samples are collected and tested on a weekly basis. These samples test for several microbiological, physical and operational parameters including:
- Total Coliforms and E.coli (microbiological),
- pH and turbidity (physical), and
- Chlorine residual, fluoride and aluminium (chemical).
Hobart Water complies with microbiological requirements with ongoing improvement in pH, turbidity and chlorine residual. Tests are part of a Hobart Water's comprehensive water quality strategy which enabled us to meet, and in many instances exceed, the health-related water quality requirements set by the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
Water Treatment
Depending on where the water source originates, the water's treatment differs. Throughout the system, chlorine and fluoride are added to the water in line with legislative and contractual requirements to ensure a high quality supply is delivered to customers.
The complete water treatment process includes:
- Coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation,
- Filtration, and
- Disinfection and fluoridation.
Water from catchments such as Lake Fenton and parts of Mt Wellington only requires disinfection through chlorination and fluoridation as the water is particularly clean.
At the Bryn Estyn Water Treatment Plant, full treatment takes place. In a purpose built laboratory, operators test water 24 hours a day, seven days a week - every day of the year. To learn more about the treatment process at Bryn Estyn, click here
