Hon Adele Farina asks about chemicals added to Busselton Water and testing for Naegleria fowleri. The Minister responds, detailing chlorine use and testing for thermophilic amoeba, including Naegleria lovaniensis.

AnsweredQoN 645Legislative Council
Asked
13 September 2012
Portfolio
Water

QuestionView source ↗

BUSSELTON WATER —
ADDITIVES AND TESTING
645. Hon ADELE FARINA to the minister representing the
Minister for Water:
I refer to Busselton Water.
(1) What
chemicals are added to drinking water by Busselton Water and in what quantity
is each chemical added?
(2) How many
times has Busselton Water undertaken a test for Naegleriafowleri and what was
the outcome of the test?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1) Chlorine is
the only chemical added to the water to achieve a residual chlorination level
of 0.5 milligrams per litre. This is consistent with the Australian Drinking
Water Guidelines.
(2) Naegleriafowleri
and Naegleria lovaniensis are closely related thermophilic amoebae.
Naegleriafowleri causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rapidly fatal
disease of the central nervous system, while Naegleria lovaniensis is
non-pathogenic. Busselton Water undertakes weekly testing for Thermophilic
Amoeba and Naegleria lovaniensis has previously been identified.

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