❓ Question on Notice regarding drinking water quality testing in remote Aboriginal communities in WA, specifically concerning the roles of WSP, Eurofins/ARL, PathWest, and the Chemistry Centre WA, and public access to water quality reports. The Minister's answer clarifies responsibilities and access to data.
AnsweredQoN 97Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Minister’s answers to question on notice 2173, and I ask: (a) are the annual reports on drinking water quality in remote Aboriginal communities prepared by WSP, an international engineering organisation with over 65,000 employees worldwide with its head office based in the United Kingdom; (b) for how long has Eurofins/Analytical Reference Laboratory (Eurofins/ARL) of Western Australia been testing drinking water samples from remote Aboriginal Communities in Western Australia; (c) in which country are the staff employed by WSP, who write up the annual reports on drinking water safety in remote Aboriginal Communities in Western Australia, based; (d) does Eurofins/ARL provide the individual initial laboratory reports (i.e. the monthly microbiological examinations reports, the 3 monthly nitrate analysis reports, the 6 monthly chemical analysis reports and the radiochemical analyses reports) to WSP; (e) if Eurofins/ARL do not provide the monthly microbiological examinations reports, the 3 monthly nitrate analysis reports, the 6 monthly chemical analysis reports and the radiochemical analyses reports to WSP, who does provide these reports to WSP; (f) who provides the Department of Health of Western Australia with copies of the monthly microbiological examination reports, the 3 monthly nitrate analysis reports, the 6 monthly chemical analysis reports and the radiochemical analyses reports; (g) why doesn’t the Health Department use PathWest to test drinking water and swimming water samples from remote Aboriginal Communities in Western Australia; (h) why doesn’t the Chemistry Centre WA test drinking water samples from remote Aboriginal Communities in Western Australia; (i) where can the public access copies of Eurofins/ARL’s monthly microbiological examination reports for remote Aboriginal Communities in Western Australia; (j) where can the public access copies of Eurofins/ARL’s 3 monthly nitrate analysis reports for the remote Aboriginal Communities in Western Australia; (k) where can the public access copies of Eurofins/ARL’s 6 monthly chemical analysis reports for remote Aboriginal Communities in Western Australia; (l) where can the public access copies of Eurofins/ARL’s annual/biannual radiochemical analysis reports for remote Aboriginal Communities in Western Australia; (m) if there isn't currently public access to the documents listed in (i)-(l), will the Minister please table copies of these documents; (n) if no to (m), why not; and (o) in response to question on notice 2173, 3(b)-(c), the Minister said, "No radiation has been detected". Isn't it true that radiation has been detected in previous annual water quality reports for the Ngaanyatjarra lands (e.g. Warakurna)?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
29 May 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health
Response time
8 days
The testing of water quality is the responsibility of the provider of the service. The provision of water services in remote aboriginal communities transferred from the Department of Communities to the Water Corporation on 1 July 2023. Results of testing are provided to the Department of Health as the regulator.
(a-e) WSP and Eurofins/ARL are not providing these services.
(f-h) The Water Corporation provides results of drinking water quality analysis for Aboriginal Communities within the Aboriginal Communities Water Services (ACWS) Program to the Department of Health on a monthly basis.
The ACWS program is delivered in partnership with Aboriginal communities and water quality testing is provided through contracted Regional Services Providers:
• Kimberley Regional Service Providers Pty Ltd
• Pilbara Meta Maya Regional Aboriginal Corporation; and
• Ngaanyatjarra Services
(i-n) The Department of Communities has published water quality results for tested remote communities between 2018 - 2023. Water quality testing prior to 2018 was the responsibility of the Commonwealth.
(o) The previous question referred to elevated levels of radiation.
(a-e) WSP and Eurofins/ARL are not providing these services.
(f-h) The Water Corporation provides results of drinking water quality analysis for Aboriginal Communities within the Aboriginal Communities Water Services (ACWS) Program to the Department of Health on a monthly basis.
The ACWS program is delivered in partnership with Aboriginal communities and water quality testing is provided through contracted Regional Services Providers:
• Kimberley Regional Service Providers Pty Ltd
• Pilbara Meta Maya Regional Aboriginal Corporation; and
• Ngaanyatjarra Services
(i-n) The Department of Communities has published water quality results for tested remote communities between 2018 - 2023. Water quality testing prior to 2018 was the responsibility of the Commonwealth.
(o) The previous question referred to elevated levels of radiation.
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