❓ WA Parliament Question on Notice regarding water filtration systems in remote communities, focusing on uranyl-nitrate and nitrate removal. Current systems don't filter these, but planned upgrades will.
AnsweredQoN 1643Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the drinking water issues in remote communities raised in question without notice C543, and ask: (a) what type of filtration systems have been installed or upgraded in remote communities in the last 12 months; (b) what remote communities have had water filtration systems installed or upgraded in the last 12 months; (c) from the answers provided to (b), which of these remote communities now has access to water filtration systems capable of filtering out uranyl-nitrate; and (d) of the answers provided to (b), which of these remote communities now has access to water filtration systems capable of filtering out nitrate?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 October 2018
Responded by
Minister for Environment representing the Minister for Housing
Response time
9 days
(a) Ultrafiltration has been installed, which removes microscopic particles of matter that are suspended in the water.
(b) Kalumburu. Three filtration systems have also been installed in Cosmo Newberry, Jigalong and Tjuntjuntjarra following the Auditor General’s Report - Delivering Essential Services to Remote Aboriginal Communities May 2015. These systems improve the chemical composition of the drinking water.
Planning is also underway for the Department of Communities to install additional systems in Jameson, Parnngurr and Warburton communities over the next 12 months.
(c) None. Uranyl nitrate may form when uranium and nitrate are both present, however, the Department of Communities is not aware of uranyl nitrate naturally occurring in drinking water in Western Australia. Despite this, the planned systems at Jameson, Parnngurr and Warburton communities will be capable of filtering uranyl-nitrate.
(d) None. Kalumburu does not have elevated nitrate levels. However, the planned systems at Jameson, Parnngurr and Warburton communities will be capable of filtering nitrate.
(b) Kalumburu. Three filtration systems have also been installed in Cosmo Newberry, Jigalong and Tjuntjuntjarra following the Auditor General’s Report - Delivering Essential Services to Remote Aboriginal Communities May 2015. These systems improve the chemical composition of the drinking water.
Planning is also underway for the Department of Communities to install additional systems in Jameson, Parnngurr and Warburton communities over the next 12 months.
(c) None. Uranyl nitrate may form when uranium and nitrate are both present, however, the Department of Communities is not aware of uranyl nitrate naturally occurring in drinking water in Western Australia. Despite this, the planned systems at Jameson, Parnngurr and Warburton communities will be capable of filtering uranyl-nitrate.
(d) None. Kalumburu does not have elevated nitrate levels. However, the planned systems at Jameson, Parnngurr and Warburton communities will be capable of filtering nitrate.
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