❓ Question regarding the water quality supplied by the Water Corporation to the Mirambeena Industrial Estate, a Strategic Industrial Area, and the Corporation's plans to address any issues. The response indicates the water supply is non-standard and doesn't guarantee potable standards due to the distance and infrastructure limitations.
AnsweredQoN 2072Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the provision of water, by the Water Corporation, to the Mirambeena Industrial Estate north of Albany, which is designated by the State Government as a Strategic Industrial Area (SIA), and I ask: (a) why is the water quality of the supply to this estate being described as suspect or unsatisfactory for human consumption; (b) does the water supply to the Mirambeena SIA meet all potable water standards set by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation; (c) if no to (b), in what areas is the supply not compliant; (d) please provide the water quality data for the supply to the Mirambeena SIA for the last five years; (e) what plan does the Water Corporation have in place to remedy any water quality issues in the supply to Mirambeena SIA; and (f) what standard of water quality is the Water Corporation required to meet in the supply of water to the Mirambeena SIA?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 September 2024
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Water
Response time
9 days
(a) Most customers within the Mirambeena Industrial Estate are on Non-Standard Water Service (NSWS) agreements, which outline the conditions under which Water Corporation agrees to supply water to properties.
These agreements apply as the Estate properties are located outside the City of Albany’s main water zone. This means they are not supplied with water from the town’s main reticulation network which Water Corporation routinely monitors. The water in the main water zone is treated to ensure it meets the full requirements of the Australia Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) as determined by the Department of Health (DoH).
Estate customers are supplied water via a large transfer distribution main, which runs between Albany and Mount Barker. Due to the long length of pipe, the large volume of water moving through the main and the property distance from the Albany town water treatment plant, Water Corporation cannot guarantee the quality of water supplied to customers. Water Corporation also does not conduct routine sampling or testing within the Estate.
For these reasons, Water Corporation cannot guarantee that the water provided to properties within the Estate, meets the full requirements of the ADWG.
(b) Potable water standards are not set by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. Requirements for the safety and management of drinking water quality are set within the ADWG, which are published and managed by the National Health and Medical Research Council. Water Corporation compliance with the ADWG is regulated by DoH.
(c) Water Corporation cannot guarantee the microbiological water quality of the water to the Estate.
(d) There is no microbiological water quality data provided due to there being no representative monitoring point in the area.
(e) Water Corporation does not currently have plans to provide a standard level of service, in terms of water quality, to the Estate.
(f) Under Water Corporation’s Memorandum of Understanding with DoH, Water Corporation is permitted to provide a NSWS with a Service Agreement Water Quality to customers who receive a water supply that has originally been treated to a drinking water service standard but, after long detention times in extended pipeline systems or protracted water age, the water may not comply with the microbiological provisions of DoH’s requirements and the ADWG.
These agreements apply as the Estate properties are located outside the City of Albany’s main water zone. This means they are not supplied with water from the town’s main reticulation network which Water Corporation routinely monitors. The water in the main water zone is treated to ensure it meets the full requirements of the Australia Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) as determined by the Department of Health (DoH).
Estate customers are supplied water via a large transfer distribution main, which runs between Albany and Mount Barker. Due to the long length of pipe, the large volume of water moving through the main and the property distance from the Albany town water treatment plant, Water Corporation cannot guarantee the quality of water supplied to customers. Water Corporation also does not conduct routine sampling or testing within the Estate.
For these reasons, Water Corporation cannot guarantee that the water provided to properties within the Estate, meets the full requirements of the ADWG.
(b) Potable water standards are not set by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. Requirements for the safety and management of drinking water quality are set within the ADWG, which are published and managed by the National Health and Medical Research Council. Water Corporation compliance with the ADWG is regulated by DoH.
(c) Water Corporation cannot guarantee the microbiological water quality of the water to the Estate.
(d) There is no microbiological water quality data provided due to there being no representative monitoring point in the area.
(e) Water Corporation does not currently have plans to provide a standard level of service, in terms of water quality, to the Estate.
(f) Under Water Corporation’s Memorandum of Understanding with DoH, Water Corporation is permitted to provide a NSWS with a Service Agreement Water Quality to customers who receive a water supply that has originally been treated to a drinking water service standard but, after long detention times in extended pipeline systems or protracted water age, the water may not comply with the microbiological provisions of DoH’s requirements and the ADWG.
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