❓ WA Parliamentary Question regarding lead testing in hospital water supplies. The Minister for Health provides information on hospitals tested, lead levels, and relevant standards, with plans for further testing at the QEII Health Complex.
AnsweredQoN 43Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Can the Minister advise which hospitals have been tested for lead in their water supply? (2) Which hospitals had lead readings above the Australian Standard? (3) What is the Australian Standard for allowable lead content in potable water: (a) on what basis was this standard adopted; and (b) are there international examples of counties or regions that have adopted standards equal to the Australian standard and have subsequently changed the standard? (4) Apart from the New Children's Hospital have any other buildings within the QEII Health Complex been tested for lead in their water supply? (5) Apart from the New Children's Hospital are there plans to test other buildings within the QEII Health Complex that receive their water from the internal ring main?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 June 2017
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
9 days
(1) I am advised by the Department of Health that, to the date of the Member’s question, the following hospitals have tested for lead in their water supply:
(2) Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Royal Perth Hospital sites each had a sample with lead exceeding 0.01 milligrams per litre (mg/L). The non-conforming sample results have been investigated and none required further remedial action.
(3) The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) “ Australian Drinking Water Guidelines ” establishes a health-based guideline value for lead in drinking water (potable water) of 0.01 milligrams per litre. This is designed as a risk based value which guides further investigation and response but is not an “Australian Standard” per se.
(3)(a) The guideline value for lead in drinking water is based on a World Health Organisation assessment and was determined by the need to protect young children, infants and pregnant women, the groups most at risk.
(3)(b) Many international countries have adopted 0.01 milligrams per litre as a standard or guideline value for lead in drinking water; the terminology used varies from country to country. None have subsequently changed them.
(4) Yes.
(5) Yes. Plans are in place to carry out water testing of water supplies to all buildings on the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre site, that fall under the remit of the North Metropolitan Health Service.
(2) Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Royal Perth Hospital sites each had a sample with lead exceeding 0.01 milligrams per litre (mg/L). The non-conforming sample results have been investigated and none required further remedial action.
(3) The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) “ Australian Drinking Water Guidelines ” establishes a health-based guideline value for lead in drinking water (potable water) of 0.01 milligrams per litre. This is designed as a risk based value which guides further investigation and response but is not an “Australian Standard” per se.
(3)(a) The guideline value for lead in drinking water is based on a World Health Organisation assessment and was determined by the need to protect young children, infants and pregnant women, the groups most at risk.
(3)(b) Many international countries have adopted 0.01 milligrams per litre as a standard or guideline value for lead in drinking water; the terminology used varies from country to country. None have subsequently changed them.
(4) Yes.
(5) Yes. Plans are in place to carry out water testing of water supplies to all buildings on the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre site, that fall under the remit of the North Metropolitan Health Service.
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