A parliamentary question regarding the chemicals added to the Goldfields water supply pipeline, including the reasons for their addition and data on any changes in chemical composition or volume. The answer details the chemicals used for disinfection, fluoridation, pH control, and other water treatment processes.

AnsweredQoN 2267Legislative Assembly
Asked
18 November 2003
Portfolio
Government Enterprises

QuestionView source ↗

(b) reason for each chemical being added; and (c) data on any additional chemical, or increased volume per kilolitre, added to the Goldfields water supply pipeline?
(c) data on any additional chemical, or increased volume per kilolitre, added to the Goldfields water supply pipeline?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
2 December 2003
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Government Enterprises
Response time
14 days
(b) Chlorine is used to disinfect the water. Chlorine provides an effective protection against the spread of waterborne diseases without producing unpleasant tastes or odours. Fluoride in the form of Fluorosilicic Acid (FSA) or Sodium Silca Fluoride, is added to meet Health Department requirements. Fluoride has been shown to effectively reduce dental disease. In Western Australia, fluoridation is regulated by the Fluoridation of Public Works Supplies Act 1966, which is administered by the Health Department. Calcium Hydroxide (Hydrated Lime) is added for pH control and to condition the water to prevent corrosion of the internal cement lining on the Stirling Trunk Main and other mains within the water supply system. Carbon Dioxide is added to provide a source of carbonic species in the water conditioning process and to balance the pH change brought about by the lime dosing. · Aluminium Sulphate Coagulant · Polyelectrolyte Flocculant · Sodium Hydroxide pH correction · Sulphuric Acid pH correction · Sodium Chloride MIEX Resin regeneration · MIEX Resin Organic materials removal · Garnet Inert material used in hardness removal process (c) Ammonia is added to the goldfields supply at Mundaring Weir. Ammonia produces chloramines when mixed with chlorine in a disinfection process is called chloramination. Other chemicals added to the Goldfields Water Supply Pipeline (at Mundaring Weir) are: · Chlorine · Fluorosilicic Acid · Sodium Hydroxide (2) Fluoridation in water supplies is overseen by the Department of Health. This question should be referred to the Minister for Health. (3) See tabled paper.
Fluoride in the form of Fluorosilicic Acid (FSA) or Sodium Silca Fluoride, is added to meet Health Department requirements. Fluoride has been shown to effectively reduce dental disease. In Western Australia, fluoridation is regulated by the Fluoridation of Public Works Supplies Act 1966, which is administered by the Health Department. Calcium Hydroxide (Hydrated Lime) is added for pH control and to condition the water to prevent corrosion of the internal cement lining on the Stirling Trunk Main and other mains within the water supply system. Carbon Dioxide is added to provide a source of carbonic species in the water conditioning process and to balance the pH change brought about by the lime dosing. · Aluminium Sulphate Coagulant · Polyelectrolyte Flocculant · Sodium Hydroxide pH correction · Sulphuric Acid pH correction · Sodium Chloride MIEX Resin regeneration · MIEX Resin Organic materials removal · Garnet Inert material used in hardness removal process (c) Ammonia is added to the goldfields supply at Mundaring Weir. Ammonia produces chloramines when mixed with chlorine in a disinfection process is called chloramination. Other chemicals added to the Goldfields Water Supply Pipeline (at Mundaring Weir) are: · Chlorine · Fluorosilicic Acid · Sodium Hydroxide (2) Fluoridation in water supplies is overseen by the Department of Health. This question should be referred to the Minister for Health. (3) See tabled paper.
Calcium Hydroxide (Hydrated Lime) is added for pH control and to condition the water to prevent corrosion of the internal cement lining on the Stirling Trunk Main and other mains within the water supply system. Carbon Dioxide is added to provide a source of carbonic species in the water conditioning process and to balance the pH change brought about by the lime dosing. · Aluminium Sulphate Coagulant · Polyelectrolyte Flocculant · Sodium Hydroxide pH correction · Sulphuric Acid pH correction · Sodium Chloride MIEX Resin regeneration · MIEX Resin Organic materials removal · Garnet Inert material used in hardness removal process (c) Ammonia is added to the goldfields supply at Mundaring Weir. Ammonia produces chloramines when mixed with chlorine in a disinfection process is called chloramination. Other chemicals added to the Goldfields Water Supply Pipeline (at Mundaring Weir) are: · Chlorine · Fluorosilicic Acid · Sodium Hydroxide (2) Fluoridation in water supplies is overseen by the Department of Health. This question should be referred to the Minister for Health. (3) See tabled paper.
Carbon Dioxide is added to provide a source of carbonic species in the water conditioning process and to balance the pH change brought about by the lime dosing. · Aluminium Sulphate Coagulant · Polyelectrolyte Flocculant · Sodium Hydroxide pH correction · Sulphuric Acid pH correction · Sodium Chloride MIEX Resin regeneration · MIEX Resin Organic materials removal · Garnet Inert material used in hardness removal process (c) Ammonia is added to the goldfields supply at Mundaring Weir. Ammonia produces chloramines when mixed with chlorine in a disinfection process is called chloramination. Other chemicals added to the Goldfields Water Supply Pipeline (at Mundaring Weir) are: · Chlorine · Fluorosilicic Acid · Sodium Hydroxide (2) Fluoridation in water supplies is overseen by the Department of Health. This question should be referred to the Minister for Health. (3) See tabled paper.
· Aluminium Sulphate Coagulant · Polyelectrolyte Flocculant · Sodium Hydroxide pH correction · Sulphuric Acid pH correction · Sodium Chloride MIEX Resin regeneration · MIEX Resin Organic materials removal · Garnet Inert material used in hardness removal process (c) Ammonia is added to the goldfields supply at Mundaring Weir. Ammonia produces chloramines when mixed with chlorine in a disinfection process is called chloramination. Other chemicals added to the Goldfields Water Supply Pipeline (at Mundaring Weir) are: · Chlorine · Fluorosilicic Acid · Sodium Hydroxide (2) Fluoridation in water supplies is overseen by the Department of Health. This question should be referred to the Minister for Health. (3) See tabled paper.
(c) Ammonia is added to the goldfields supply at Mundaring Weir. Ammonia produces chloramines when mixed with chlorine in a disinfection process is called chloramination. Other chemicals added to the Goldfields Water Supply Pipeline (at Mundaring Weir) are: · Chlorine · Fluorosilicic Acid · Sodium Hydroxide (2) Fluoridation in water supplies is overseen by the Department of Health. This question should be referred to the Minister for Health. (3) See tabled paper.
· Chlorine · Fluorosilicic Acid · Sodium Hydroxide (2) Fluoridation in water supplies is overseen by the Department of Health. This question should be referred to the Minister for Health. (3) See tabled paper.
(2) Fluoridation in water supplies is overseen by the Department of Health. This question should be referred to the Minister for Health. (3) See tabled paper.
(3) See tabled paper.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more