❓ Hon. Alison Xamon asks about the testing regime for agricultural and veterinary chemicals in WA drinking water, before and after treatment. The Minister provides a detailed response, including testing frequency, chemicals tested, and detection levels, referring to tabled documents for specific details.
AnsweredQoN 5220Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Will the Minister please provide a complete list of the agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals that are tested for in Western Australian drinking water -
(a) before the water has been treated and made ready for human consumption; and
(b) after the water has been treated and made ready for human consumption?
(2) For each agvet chemical listed at (1), what limits apply to the detection process that is used for testing?
(3) Will the Minister please provide a complete list of which water sources are tested for agvet chemicals?
(4) For each water source listed at (3), how frequently does the testing take place?
(5) For each water source listed at (3), when the last time testing took place -
(a) what was the date;
(b) which agvet chemicals were tested for (please provide a complete list) -
(i) before the water was treated and made ready for human consumption; and
(ii) after the water was treated and made ready for human consumption;
(c) at each of those two stages, and for each agvet chemical tested for, what levels were detected;
(d) was there a report(s) made of the outcome of testing;
(e) if yes to (5)(d), will the Minister please table the report(s); and
(f) if no to (5)(e), why not?
(a) before the water has been treated and made ready for human consumption; and
(b) after the water has been treated and made ready for human consumption?
(2) For each agvet chemical listed at (1), what limits apply to the detection process that is used for testing?
(3) Will the Minister please provide a complete list of which water sources are tested for agvet chemicals?
(4) For each water source listed at (3), how frequently does the testing take place?
(5) For each water source listed at (3), when the last time testing took place -
(a) what was the date;
(b) which agvet chemicals were tested for (please provide a complete list) -
(i) before the water was treated and made ready for human consumption; and
(ii) after the water was treated and made ready for human consumption;
(c) at each of those two stages, and for each agvet chemical tested for, what levels were detected;
(d) was there a report(s) made of the outcome of testing;
(e) if yes to (5)(d), will the Minister please table the report(s); and
(f) if no to (5)(e), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 May 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Water
Response time
57 days
(1-2)
Note that for the purposes of this response:
? the term 'pesticides' has been used when referring to 'agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals';
? the term 'raw water' has been used when referring to water before it has been treated and made ready for human consumption; and
? the term 'treated water' has been used when referring to water after it has been treated and made ready for human consumption.
The Water Corporation has a Western Australian Department of Health approved standard, based on the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, which outlines the regular monitoring programs required to confirm the quality of drinking water supplied in any Corporation managed water supply system.
The monitoring programs cover microbiological, chemical, including pesticides, radiological and aesthetic parameters. Microbiological testing occurs most frequently as the water quality can be more variable and the health effects of contamination more acute. Other parameters, including pesticides, are tested less frequently as their concentrations are more stable and acute health impacts less likely.
Samples are taken by Water Corporation from representative sample points in each water supply system and submitted to independent National Association of Testing Authorities accredited laboratories for analysis.
The Water Corporation routinely tests for 40 pesticides. These pesticides together with the limit of reporting and Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) health guideline value attached. [see tabled paper no].
(3) The Water Corporation manages 244 water supply systems and a list is provided [see tabled paper no]
(4) In accordance with our Western Australian Department of Health approved standard, based on the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, the Water Corporation routinely assesses water quality for pesticides at least annually in all 244 water supply systems.
The monitoring frequency is also risk based, so some water supply systems will have a more frequent sampling program for pesticides where land use or activity in or adjacent to the water source may result in the potential for pesticides to be present.
(5a) All 244 water supply systems listed [see tabled paper no] have had water analysed for the pesticides listed in (2) since 1 January 2011, with continued monitoring during 2012.
Since 1 January 2011, the Water Corporation has detected pesticides in:
- One water supply system in the treated water; and
- Seven water supply systems in the raw water.
(5b-f) The date, location, pesticide, measured concentration and 2011 Australian Drinking Water Guidelines Health Guideline Value for the most recent treated water detection in each water supply system is provided [see tabled paper no].
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Note that for the purposes of this response:
? the term 'pesticides' has been used when referring to 'agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals';
? the term 'raw water' has been used when referring to water before it has been treated and made ready for human consumption; and
? the term 'treated water' has been used when referring to water after it has been treated and made ready for human consumption.
The Water Corporation has a Western Australian Department of Health approved standard, based on the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, which outlines the regular monitoring programs required to confirm the quality of drinking water supplied in any Corporation managed water supply system.
The monitoring programs cover microbiological, chemical, including pesticides, radiological and aesthetic parameters. Microbiological testing occurs most frequently as the water quality can be more variable and the health effects of contamination more acute. Other parameters, including pesticides, are tested less frequently as their concentrations are more stable and acute health impacts less likely.
Samples are taken by Water Corporation from representative sample points in each water supply system and submitted to independent National Association of Testing Authorities accredited laboratories for analysis.
The Water Corporation routinely tests for 40 pesticides. These pesticides together with the limit of reporting and Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) health guideline value attached. [see tabled paper no].
(3) The Water Corporation manages 244 water supply systems and a list is provided [see tabled paper no]
(4) In accordance with our Western Australian Department of Health approved standard, based on the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, the Water Corporation routinely assesses water quality for pesticides at least annually in all 244 water supply systems.
The monitoring frequency is also risk based, so some water supply systems will have a more frequent sampling program for pesticides where land use or activity in or adjacent to the water source may result in the potential for pesticides to be present.
(5a) All 244 water supply systems listed [see tabled paper no] have had water analysed for the pesticides listed in (2) since 1 January 2011, with continued monitoring during 2012.
Since 1 January 2011, the Water Corporation has detected pesticides in:
- One water supply system in the treated water; and
- Seven water supply systems in the raw water.
(5b-f) The date, location, pesticide, measured concentration and 2011 Australian Drinking Water Guidelines Health Guideline Value for the most recent treated water detection in each water supply system is provided [see tabled paper no].
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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